Man convicted of brutally chopping ex-partner files appeal

A former Kingston Squatting Area, Springlands, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) man who was found guilty of a brutal cutlass attack on his ex-reputed wife has launched an appeal, arguing that his conviction is unsafe and that the 12-year sentence imposed on him is excessive.
Robert Rawlins, who had been initially indicted for attempted murder, was convicted in 2016 for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to then-45-year-old Sharmila Singh.
The incident had taken place on July 3, 2014. Rawlins was convicted by a mixed 12-member jury following a trial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the Berbice High Court.

Singh, with whom Rawlins had shared a two-year relationship, had testified that on July 3, 2014, she was sitting in a hammock at her former sister-in-law’s home when Rawlins came and asked her “Where yuh gon run now?”, before chopping and broadsiding her with two cutlasses.
According to her, her sister-in-law, upon seeing this, ran to the back of the house to alert the neighbours. She had said that Rawlins chopped her about her body and then left.
Singh was initially taken to the Skeldon Hospital before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
During the ordeal, Singh had testified that she was unable to scream because she was in shock.
Cuba-trained Dr Chandrawattie Lalbachan, in testifying on behalf of the prosecution, had said that she examined the injured woman on July 23, 2014, and observed that there were 11 lacerations and hematomas about her body, inclusive of her head, back, shoulder, arm and fingers.
According to the doctor, due to the extent of the woman’s wounds, she had lost a large volume of blood. It was noted by the doctor that without prompt medical intervention, Singh might have lost her life; however, she had a permanent disability in three of her right-hand fingers.
In his defence, Rawlins, who was unrepresented by counsel, elected to give an unsworn statement in which he maintained that he did not chop his ex-partner. He had claimed that two men had attached him and Singh and that during the altercation, she was injured.
Rawlins’s appeal is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday from 09:30h. (G1)