Man gets 15 years for temple attack

A CLAXTON Bay man who slit a woman’s throat after brutally beating and kicking her inside a Hindu temple seven years ago, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by a San Fernando judge. “The fact that she is alive today, is nothing short of a miracle,” Justice Malcolm Holdip said as he passed sentence on Curtis Carter, 40, a father of two who came up for sentencing in the third Criminal Assizes, after a jury found him guilty of attempted murder, two weeks ago. He was acquitted of a sexual offence.

Justice Holdip said the victim suffered a deep star-shaped laceration to her forehead, a five to seven centimetre laceration at the base of her neck, profuse bleeding, swelling to her nose and decreased movement in other parts of her body. When she was taken to hospital, she was also found to be suffering from severe shock. “She was almost dying. All reports from doctors said this woman was very near the point of death,” Justice Holdip told the court. The victim was warded at San Fernando General Hospital for 11 days. The State’s evidence against Carter was that the attack on the woman, a Hindu devotee, who lived near the temple and managed its upkeep, occurred on May 21, 1997, at Springvale.

State attorney Narissa Ramsundar said around 8 am on the day in question, the caretaker had completed duties at the altar and was entering the kitchen area when Carter grabbed her by her clothing. Carter, armed with a cutlass and knife, beat the devotee until she became unconscious. Carter then took the knife and slit her throat and stamped on  the woman’s neck, crushing it in the process, before kicking her repeatedly.