A 20-year-old labourer whom the court heard escaped from custody and was on the run for over a month was today sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on an unlawful wounding charge. He, however, denied escaping from the East La Penitence Police Station.
Noel Seratan, of La Penitence Squatting Area, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was slapped with two charges.
He admitted that on July 7 at the East Ruimveldt, Squatting Area, he unlawfully wounded Delson Alphonso.
However, he pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 8 at the East La Penitence Police Station, while being in custody on the unlawful wounding charge, he escaped.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh stated that on July 7 the defendant and the victim had an argument and Seratan picked up a piece of steel and dealt Alphonso several lashes to his right hand. The court heard Seratan then armed himself with a knife and dealt the victim a chop to the left side of his forehead. The injured man was then rushed to the Georgetown Public (GPH) where he was treated for his injuries.
The matter was reported and Seratan was arrested the following day. However, while in custody awaiting his court appearance, he escaped, the prosecutor said. The court heard it was only recently that he was rearrested.
The prosecutor asked that the court in sentencing the defendant send a strong message to persons who think it is okay to wound others. He also added that the defendant showed no remorse for the attack on the victim.
The magistrate, after listening to the facts, sentenced Seratan to six months’ imprisonment. She also ordered that he must undergo anger management classes while incarcerated.
Seratan is expected to make his next court appearance on September 27 for report on the matter to which he pleaded not guilty.
