Shopkeeper, miner injured during brawl over metal detector

Twenty-four-year-old Kevon Thomas, a shopkeeper of Big Creek Backdam, North West District (NWD) and of Pakera Village, Matthews Ridge, was on Monday evening chopped during a misunderstanding.
The suspect, a 27-year-old miner, also of Big Creek Backdam, was allegedly injured too during the incident.
Based on reports received, about 18:30h on the day in question, the suspect’s brother and Thomas had a misunderstanding over a gold detector. During the argument, Thomas reportedly took away the detector that belonged to the suspect.
However, the young man went home and informed the suspect what had transpired. So, the suspect armed himself with a cutlass and went to Thomas’s shop where he dealt him a chop to the left hand. In trying to escape the attack, the injured man reportedly jumped into a clump of bushes and the suspect left.
Soon after, the injured man came out of hiding and was taken to the Matthews Ridge District Hospital, where he was treated, but given the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The suspect was found at Big Creek Backdam one day after, and he had sustained lacerations to his head. He told Police that he was first chopped by Thomas and in retaliation, he chopped the victim.
The suspect was told of the offence committed, cautioned and arrested after which he was escorted to the Matthews Ridge District Hospital, where he was treated and handed over to the Police. He is expected to be charged shortly for inflicting grievous bodily harm.
An investigation was launched into the chopping incident.