Homeless man freed of attempted murder

A HOMELESS man was on Monday acquitted of a charge of attempted murder after the State decided to abort leading any more evidence against him, because it had received information that the accused had acted in self-defence. Roland Sandiford, 60, was before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court charged with attempting to murder Anthony Springer of La Resource Street, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain. According to the evidence given by Springer on Monday, Sandiford, who has no fixed place of abode, used to sleep in a room at the Desperama Club on George Street, Port-of-Spain. Springer, a vegetable vendor, said he also used the room to store his goods. The club was owned by wrestler Thunderbolt Williams, a relative of Springer’s wife.

Springer told the court he was about to secure his goods in the room after the day’s sales at around 7.25 pm on January 21, 2000, when he was confronted by Sandiford. He said Sandiford told him he could not store his goods there because it was obstructing him and an argument ensued. He said Sandiford pulled a “Rambo-type” knife from a bag which was strapped to his chest, and lunged at him. He said he felt a burning and a warm substance oozing down his chest. Springer said he collapsed and regained consciousness at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where he was warded for 12 days. As a result of the stab wound, Springer said, he had lost the use of his right hand.

Springer adamantly denied claims by Sandiford’s attorney Eduardo Martinez that his client had drawn a knife only after he (Springer) had launched an attack on him (Sandiford) and that he (Springer) had accidently fallen on Sandiford’s knife. When the court resumed after a break, however, prosecutors Jeron Joseph and Joy Balkaran told Carmona they had received new evidence that Sandiford had indeed acted in self-defence and, as a result, had taken a decision to discontinue leading evidence against the homeless man. Carmona instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict and commended the State attorneys for acting fairly on the information received.