Tobago man freed of attempted murder

A TOBAGO man was found not guilty of attempted murder and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm by a nine member jury when he appeared before Justice Paula Mae-Weekes in the Tobago Assizes.

State attorney George Busby called three witnesses to testify for the State, while defence attorney Larry Williams called on his client Temple Charles to testify in his own defence. The court heard that Curtis Thomas, of Plymouth, Tobago, loaned Charles $20. On August 6 Thomas saw Charles, of Anos Vale, and asked him for the money.  Thomas claims the next thing he knew was that he felt a pain to the right side of his forehead and water being thrown on him. He said he later learnt that Charles had cuffed him down. He was taken to the hospital and treated.

On August 10, 1999, Thomas claimed he was at home fixing a nylon to go fishing when he saw Charles on the steps of a nearby house sharpening a cutlass.  He heard a neighbour scream out and realised Charles was in front of him with the cutlass raised. He claimed Charles chopped him to the left side of his jaw and hand. The chop to his hand severed the fourth finger on the right hand and caused a deep laceration to the third finger of that hand. Charles dropped the cutlass and ran. Thomas went out to the main road and stopped a passing police vehicle and was taken to the hospital where he was warded for two days. Thomas’ mother, Veta Duncan, handed over the cutlass to investigating officer, PC Olton. Charles was arrested and charged on August 11.

Charles said that on August 6, 1999, he was playing “wappie” with some friends when they saw a flashing light coming towards them. He said they ran believing it was the police and since everybody had left their money he decided to grab the money. Charles said when they realised the vehicle was an ambulance they all returned and started to demand their money from him. He said he told them to wait, but Thomas seemed impatient and started to push him.  Charles said Thomas pushed him twice, and then “cuffed him down”. On August 10, Charles said he had just come from the garden when Thomas’ cousin Anthony called him a “maccomere man”. He said he went to complain about Anthony’s behaviour and while on his way, Thomas came at him with a cutlass. Charles said he ran into a house owned by a man called “Sadist”, but “Sadist” pushed him back outside and Thomas threw a big stone at him. He explained that this happened three times.

He said on the third occasion, Thomas approached him with a raised cutlass, so he fired a chop at Thomas with his cutlass and he got injured. Charles said he dropped the cutlass and ran into “Sadist’s” house where he asked for glass of water. Charles said he made a report at the Old Grainge Police Station and PC Olton accompanied him to the scene of the incident. He was later arrested and charged.