[www.inewsguyana.com] – A sanitation worker attached to the “clean up my country project” found himself before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 charged with chopping his coworker.
Twenty-one -year old Joshua Joseph of 68 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge which read that on December 03 at High Street, Georgetown he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Dexter Beckles with the intent to maim, disable or disfigure, or cause him grievous bodily harm.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones stated that Beckles and defendant are neighbours as well as coworkers. He stated that on the day in question, the defendant and another man were involved in an argument when Beckles .
The Complainant reportedly said “we ain’t got no time for this , we here for work,” and turned his back to the accused when another coworker shouted “watch out”. The Complainant turned around and saw the defendant armed with a cutlass and fired several chops at him. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and discharged a few days later.
The defendant alleged that he was acting in self defence, stating that during an argument involving him and another coworker, Beckles intervened addressing him by derogatory names. He related that an argument ensued and the VC retrieved a cutlass and attacked him.
He further alleged that he managed to overpower the VC and took the cutlass away, and he subsequently used it to fight off the Complainant. The Magistrate entered a not guilty plea to the charge after listening to the defendant’s allegations and placed him on $20,000 bail. The matter was transferred to Court 10 for January 15.
