Woman charged with assault

A woman was called to answer a charge of assault on Friday when she appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.

Shontel Cummings, 29, of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, (WCD) pleaded not guilty to the offence which alleged that on 25 May, 2016 at Blankenburg, WCD, she assaulted Marissa Harding with intent to maim, disfigure and cause grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution’s case stated that on the day in question, the defendant approached the virtual complainant (VC), Harding, with a dangerous weapon, that is, a knife, and proceeded to assault her. The VC was stabbed several times about her body and had to be rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

The matter was reported to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, where the defendant was arrested, cautioned and charged with the offence.

In court the defendant said that she and the VC have an ongoing vendetta for a number of years now and on the day in question, the VC spread defaming rumours about her which angered her and caused her to take the course of action outlined.

Cummings said that the VC was the first person to attack her and she had to defend herself.

The Police Prosecutor objected to bail based on the gravity of the offence but was unsuccessfully.

The defendant was granted bail at the sum of $50,000 and will next have to appear in court on 9 June 2016.