Taxi driver, Essequibo Coast labourer face courts in separate assault cases

Two men were taken before the court this week in connection with separate acts of violence, one in the capital city and the other on the Essequibo Coast, with charges ranging from assault to unlawful wounding. In Georgetown, a 30-year-old taxi driver was on Tuesday granted bail after he was charged for allegedly assaulting his reputed wife. Leslie Dey of Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he was charged with assault, causing actual bodily harm.
The charge alleged that on Monday, at Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, Dey assaulted his reputed wife, Devi Surijban, during a domestic dispute. Initially, Dey pleaded guilty with an explanation, but following his account of the incident, the Magistrate recorded a not-guilty plea on his behalf. In his explanation to the court, Dey claimed that Surijban had armed herself with a chopper during an argument and approached him. “It wasn’t supposed to reach this far. I tried to take away the chopper, and I hold her hands and she sink she nail in my hand, and I bite her hand and take away the blade and hide it,” the defendant told the court.
He was granted $20,000 bail on the condition that he stay away from and have no contact with Surijban. The matter was adjourned to August 13.

Sentenced in absentia
Meanwhile, over on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) a 28-year-old labourer who was sentenced in absentia for unlawful wounding was arrested two days after his sentencing.
Rohit Lall, of Paradise, Essequibo Coast, was charged with unlawfully wounding 31-year-old construction worker Hardat Bacchus of Walton Hall. The offence occurred on April 21, 2025, at Walton Hall, and Lall was charged under Section 30(b) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02.
His case was heard on Wednesday last, at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke. Lall failed to attend the hearing, prompting the court to proceed with an ex parte trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison in his absence. Lall was subsequently arrested on Friday, and is now expected to begin serving his sentence.