Warren George, a bodybuilder who choked a woman, has been jailed for two years for the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.
George had been indicted by the State for raping and assaulting the woman, but was, on May 23, found guilty by a jury only on the latter charge. His trial was conducted by Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court. Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken and State Counsel Nafeeza Baig had presented the prosecution’s case, while George had been represented by Attorney-at-Law Gary Ramlochan.
Jailed: Warren George
This publication understands that George and the woman are acquainted with each other, and on the day in question, they had a misunderstanding during which George choked her. In relation to the rape charge, for which he was acquitted, the convict, in his defence, had maintained that he had consensual intercourse with the woman.
Meanwhile, on May 16 — the day his trial began — George escaped from the Demerara High Court by jumping over the courthouse’s very high corridor, after requesting to use the bathroom. After he had made the request, Justice Singh had instructed a Policeman to escort him to the washroom. However, as the Policeman was escorting him back to the courtroom, George sprinted from him and then jumped over the corridor rails. After landing in a small pool of water, he immediately got to his feet and ran away in the direction of Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.
Accused persons who are on bail pending their trials are not usually secured by handcuffs and foot shackles. A reliable source had told this publication that Police ranks stationed at the court had given chase after George, but were unable to apprehend him.
The source further related that, to everyone’s surprise, George had showed up at court the following morning, and had explained to the Judge that his actions were a mistake. However, Justice Singh, after considering the serious nature of the offence, had revoked George’s bail and remanded him to prison, pending the hearing and determination of his trial.
His escape was caught on the court’s security cameras.
George is a former prison officer. (G1)
