A violent altercation at the Bow George bar at Good Intent, West Bank Demerara has landed a man in jail. Hilton Springer was last week sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Wales Magistrate Court after he pleaded guilty to the unlawful and malicious wounding of 49-year-old Errol Graham on May 16, 2017. Nurse however, opined that based on the severity of injures Graham received, Springer should have been charged with attempted murder. Graham of Sisters Village, WBD, was counter-charged for wounding Springer. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $35,000.
According to the facts of the case, Graham was sitting at the Bow George establishment and was about to go home. Upon leaving, he was attacked by Springer and another, who together dealt the victim several chops about the body and managed to hold on to him before he fell to the ground and lost consciousness. Graham stated that he next remembered being a patient at the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was treated. He later reported the ghastly crime to ranks at the Wales Police Station.
In providing an explanation to the court at Friday’s hearing, Springer told the Magistrate that he did chop the victim. He however, claimed that he was defending himself. According to his story, Springer noted that Graham was drinking at the shop when he, the accused, “sent a boy” to purchase cigarettes for him. The man claimed that Graham put his hand around him, saying that he wanted to kill him.
“I pull out me cutlass to protect meself and I fire chop at he; we never had problems before,” Springer told the court.
But Magistrate Nurse retorted that it didn’t make sense that Graham just walked up and attacked him.
The accused man responded that he was cut to one side of his body but his medical report never stated that he was injured to his side. The court disbelieved that the scar shown had come as a result of the incident in May as the medical report indicated that Springer was cut to his hands and fingers.
The Magistrate highlighted that even in self-defence, the chopping was excessive and he rebuffed the defendant’s pleas for mercy. The 18-month prison sentence was imposed against Springer but the duo will return to court on July 6 as Graham denied allegations that he assaulted the man.
