A man who is allegedly the victim of an attempted assassination was on Wednesday brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with wounding.
Lawrence France
Lawrence France, 37, of Lot 86 Tabatinga, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
It is alleged that on December 9, 2016, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Sean Brusters.
However, the defendant’s Attorney submitted that his client was not guilty of the offence for which he was charged.
The lawyer stated that on December 3, 2016, three individuals invaded the restaurant of the defendant and attempted to assassinate him. However, their plans were foiled when Police arrived on the scene and they were all arrested.
The defence counsel said too that the Police were in receipt of footage which clearly showed the perpetrators planning out the act. However, he claimed that something was amiss, as while the investigation into the matter was ongoing, his client was arrested and charged with wounding. Brusters is one of the men who allegedly attempted to assassinate France.
The lawyer further claimed that the wounding allegations were against someone else, but the Police accidentally arrested his client. He begged for reasonable bail on the grounds that it was the Christmas season.
Magistrate McLennan concurred, saying “in the spirit of Christmas, I place the defendant on $70,000 bail”. The matter will return to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on March 7, 2017.
