Vidawatee Ramballacksingh, 49, of Malgretoute Village, Princes Town, appeared with 48-yearold Brent Bruce, of Princes Town, who was charged with maliciously wounding her at Library Corner, San Fernando on Saturday.

Prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan told Magistrate Alicia Chankar that the incident occurred at about 1 am.

Seedan told Chankar, Ramballacksingh and Bruce were arguing and things got heated. Bruce picked up a beer bottle and struck Ramballacksingh on the head.

Bruce’s attorney, Chantal Paul told the magistrate, however, that Bruce was dancing with another woman at the Las Vegas Recreation Club when Ramballacksingh approached him and began hitting him. “Your worship, my instructions are that everything started there. The argument continued onto the road by La Pique Plaza and the defendant (Bruce) was struck. In those circumstances he picked up a bottle.

Clearly, this relationship going nowhere.” “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” quipped Chankar.

Asked what led to the animosity between them, Ramballacksingh told Chankar she had been going through untold pains at the hands of Bruce, though she spent nights with him. “I’m trying very hard for this relationship, but he doing all kinds of things,” Ramballacksingh said.

Chankar ordered Bruce to pay a fine of $2,000 or serve two months in prison with hard labour. He was also ordered to pay Ramballacksingh $500 in compensation or serve six weeks simple imprisonment. Bruce was ordered to pay the fine immediately and he was granted one week to pay the compensation.

Next to appear was Seema Seenath, 28, of Diamond Village, San Fernando and Marcus Ramdhan, 27 who was also charged with malicious wounding. He first pleaded guilty and Seedan told the magistrate how Ramdhan struck the woman just above the right eye.

However, after Ramdhan explained how the incident happened on Sunday, the magistrate recorded a not guilty plea on his behalf.

He was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 and ordered to reappear on September 18.

WPC Praveen Rajkumar laid the charge.

Nurse is likely to make his debut tomorrow when the TKR face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Warner Park in St Kitts.

Nurse comes in as a replacement for Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has been recalled for Bangladesh’s Test series against Australia. “This gives another option in off-spinners. Ashley is very experienced, he has played this format on many occasions, he also played for the West Indies and we expect that with his experience, if selected tomorrow, he will bring another edge to our team,” said Borde.

The upcoming match is a battle of the two top teams in the standings, with TKR at the top on 12 points, with six games won out of seven matches played. The Patriots hold second place with nine points with four games won out of six matches, and have the opportunity to play on home ground on Wednesday.

Speaking on strategy, Borde admitted that the Patriots are a formidable team with the likes of Jamaican Chris Gayle and Barbados Carlos Brathwaite in their ranks.

“Being away from home, we’d assess the conditions that we currently have to play under. We’ve played here before since it’s the fifth edition of CPL, so a number of the players have been with us from day one.

Certainly, most of the players have played on that ground before and so there’s a specific way we’ll have to play and that will be determined by the coaching staff.” Borde expressed confidence in the team, citing the various options available in the fielding, bowling and batting lineup. “Uppermost with this team is that, we play as a team and not rely on one individual and that we play to our strengths and our strengths in this particular team is that we have various options that the captain can turn to.”

The scores were all level but the game was no stalemate as numerous supporters of home team Nationals came out in the scorching sun, surrounding the field on the park benches.

It did not take too long after the first whistle for the action to begin as Trinity National’s midfielder Ranelle Pascal tested the Rangers goalkeeper in the 15th minute.

But Rangers, who created several early chances, were first to score when Shakeema Forestine was on spot to toe-poke the ball into the net following a goalkeeping blunder in the 33rd minute.

A determined Nationals did not take very long to respond and indeed they did just five minutes after the Rangers opener.

A corner kick fell to Leeann Kirby whose cheeky back-heel found the back of the net.

The action only bubbled in the second half as both teams were vying to claim the full three points with Nationals desperately needing it to keep their hopes alive in the title race.

Nationals were constantly on the attack which produced many instances of last ditch defending by Rangers who also responded on the counter. Another bustling and dancing run this time by midfielder Shanelle Warrick saw another shot roll into the keeper’s gloves.

Rangers had an attempt cleared off the line but in the end the teams shared the spoils.

In a post match interview, head coach of Trincity Nationals, Joel Warrick, said that he thought the game was more or less even but felt that in the second half his team could have had scored at least one or more of the chances that fell to them. For Mic-it St Ann’s Ranger’s coach, Jason Spencer, everything went according to plan and he expressed his satisfaction with the result.

Rangers, with the result, inch closer to the top three in the table, and now find themselves 11 points behind Real Dimensions.

In other match on Saturday, Jewels FC and Defence Force also played to a 1-1draw.

West Indies got off to a poor start on tour of England, losing by an innings and 209 runs in the first Test match which ended in three days on Saturday. Gayle last played an ODI for West Indies in March 2015, while Samuels last played in October 2016 as both players had conflicts with Cricket West Indies.

Ganga said experience is currently needed in the West Indies team, which is currently being led by 25 year old Jason Holder in the threematch Test series against England.

“Right now if you compare our West Indies team against the current England Test team, you would see that the team fails in comparison to the experience on that England side,” Ganga said.

“Any amount of leadership and experience would obviously be an added boost for our current West Indies team. It is refreshing news for both Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. I am sure it will make our ODI team a little more competitive than it has been. Hopefully these guys can lead the West Indies team to some victories in the ODI series.” West Indies were poor in last month’s ODI series against India in the Caribbean, losing the five-match series 3-1 with rain washing out one of the matches.

Holder has come in for serious criticism for his captaincy but Ganga said he has a difficult task with such an inexperienced team.

“It is really unfortunate for him to be placed in a situation where he has got a bunch of inexperienced players. I saw a little bit of the first Test match against England…but everyone before the start of this series knew it would be an uphill battle for a young, inexperienced West Indies team. They had a very good start to the Test match with Kemar Roach leading with the ball, but losing 19 wickets in day three it was not expected. It would have been far-fetched to think that West Indies would have been competitive against England in English conditions.” Ganga, who praised Jermaine Blackwood for his unbeaten 79 in the first innings, thought West Indies should have included spinner Devendra Bishoo and said the bowlers must keep a consistent line and length. The former West Indies opener said for batsmen to be successful in England, they must apply themselves and be disciplines, rather than counting on talent.

Holder was lambasted in some quarters after bowling coach Roddy Estwick revealed he forgot to take the new ball when it was due during the England innings.

Ganga, now a cricket commentator, said taking the new ball might have helped, but said the outcome would have been the same.

The murdered man was identified as Curtis “Birdman” Smith Jr, from Riverside Drive, La Puerta.

Reports are he was approached at about 9 am by three men who alighted from a car and opened fire on him.

Crime scene investigators collected at least 40 spent shells.

A child received a graze from a stray bullet while a man sustained a broken arm while running during the shooting. Eyewitnesses told police Smith was involved in an altercation with another man hours shortly before he was shot.

He was captured on a video kicking a man in his head and his side.

The video was shared on social media platforms.

Police say Smith was a suspect in a murder.

However, family members say he was not a criminal but a businessman and a father of four.

Family members were so beside themselves with grief when they Smith’s body that one relative charged past the caution tape crying out for him.

The relative was held back by police. Another man was arrested for assaulting a police officer while at the murder scene.

Relatives said gunmen were after Smith for a while.

They said people were jealous of him because he had gotten several contracts in the area.

Newsday was told he was heading to one of these job sites when he was killed.

In April, Smith was chased by gunmen who shot him in the shoulder at Pregnancy Lane, off La Puerta Avenue.

Police have not yet ascertained a motive behind his murder.

The murder toll now stands at 303 for the year.

Lynly was diagnosed with the mental illness more than 20 years ago after the tragic death of his girlfriend and Patrong, who is a pensioner, has had the responsibility of caring for her son all by herself. Lynly has been an outpatient of the St Ann’s Medical Hospital for many years.

Patrong previously had her son in a home because she believed he would be able to receive the proper care and attention that he required.

After some time, the owner and caregiver of the home told the woman she would no longer be able care for Lynly because the disability cheques she was collecting from Government for him were not enough and Patrong had to take her son home and care for him.

Lynly was a patient at the hospital up two weeks but, according to his mother, one morning she returned home from an errand and found her son liming on the corner of their street with some men known to him.

She said Lynly told her a hospital’s van dropped him off with discharge papers stating the need for the prescribed medication dogmatil. She later went to the hospital and asked a medical officer if she would be able to get the prescription so she would be able to get it at a clinic.

The doctor told her he could not give her one but instead gave her a day’s worth of tablets. Patrong said that without his medication, her son is very difficult to deal with.

Patrong is now asking for help in any way possible but, most importantly, she would like to be able to access his medication.

Police identified the deceased as Ryan Crawford, 18, of Maracas Gardens in St Joseph.

His friend and survivor Nikhil Gopaul, 16, of Westmoorings, remained at the San Fernando General Hospital up to last evening.

Police said, shortly before 10 pm on Sunday, Crawford was driving a white Mercedes Benz on the south-bound lane of the highway.

Gopaul was a front-seat passenger and upon reaching Gandhi Village, Crawford attempted to switch lanes.

He lost control of the car and crashed into a utility pole.

Crawford died on the scene.

This year’s competition took place from Friday until Sunday at the National Aquatic Centre, Guyana, and featured the usual participants – TT , Suriname, Barbados, St Lucia and Guyana, as well as Grenada and the Bahamas.

In the points standings, TT finished with 1,322, followed by Suriname (1,289), Guyana (868.5), Bahamas (805), Barbados (445), St Lucia (314.5) and Grenada (20).

Coach of the 40-member team was ex-national swimmer Sharntelle McLean, who highlighted the depth and the quality of the 2017 squad.

“The other countries are getting stronger,” said McLean yesterday, upon the team’s return home at the Piarco International Airport.

“So every time we go, and every time we win, (we) become the target and they’re coming after us, and each time we get more competition.

“But the swimmers that we have, the quality and the depth that we have, I think we’ll come out on top.

Everyone got a medal.” Continuing on her point about the depth in the TT team, McLean noted, “It continues the streak that we’ve had from since CARIFTA, coming down to CCCAN and the Commonwealth Youth Games, and now Goodwill. We are definitely a force.” The Goodwill Swim Meet features competitors all under the age of 18, and is used as a developmental event for some of the region’s aspiring swimmers.

“The Goodwill Swim Meet is a great experience for the younger ones,” said McLean. “And that shows that we have the pool of talent, the pool of swimmers, to come up (and excel).” Reflecting on the experience in Guyana, the former Olympian (2004 and 2008 Games in Athens, Greece and Beijing, China respectively) stated, “It’s definitely a great achievement.” McLean pointed out that the humid conditions in Guyana was a factor, but, “The management team we had, we were really supportive.

We checked for the swimmers and made sure that they were well hydrated so they can perform.

“It was our target, to make sure that they were well taken care of, in order to perform the duties at hand.” On her new role as a coach, the 33-year-old said, “It’s definitely a difference, and I give all my previous coaches kudos for what they have done.

In fact I know I wasn’t a difficult athlete but, at the same time, it’s a pool of swimmers and a pool of personalities you’re dealing with.” One of Trinidad and Tobago’s top participants at the three-day event was Joy Blackett, who returned home with 11 medals – two gold, six silver and three bronze.

According to the 11-year-old, who trains with Tidal Wave Aquatics Swim Club, “It feels good. It was very difficult. I said ‘if we really want to win, just push harder so that Trinidad (and Tobago) will win’. And we did.” Asked about the experience in Guyana, Blackett, who will be entering Form One at Miracle Ministries in Couva, replied, “It was good. It was my second time so I knew I was going to do well.”

They have been remanded into custody.

According to reports, Wilson, 21, of Gonzales, Port of Spain was pulled from his home in the wee hours of the morning on August 8 and taken to Thomas’ home where he was forced to lure him outside.

Gunmen then shot and killed them both before fleeing the scene.

McClean and the teen were charged by Sgt Roger Reyes of the Homicide Bureau Region 1 on Sunday after advice was received from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard.

Eastmond sustained injuries to the head and was awaiting xray results up to press time at St James Hospital to ensure there was no internal bleeding. Eastmond is conscious and talking, while Sutherland only sustained minor bruises. The cyclists are preparing for the Elite Pan Am Championships in Trinidad starting on August 30.

According to reports, the crash took place in the vicinity of RBC.

The maxi hit Eastmond and Sutherland, causing damage to their bikes as well. According to reports, Eastmond hit his head on the windscreen of the maxi and was immediately taken to St James Hospital for tests.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TT CF) said, “The TT CF wishes that all is well and a speedy recovery for these cyclists so that they can compete on August 30. We are also asking the nation to be aware of our cyclists on the roads. There is going to be a lot of foreign cyclists on our shores and using the roads, so we are asking for motorists to share the road.”