Man pleads guilty to chopping off hand

A court heard yesterday that a furniture repair man who fled after his left hand was severed in a cutlass attack, still had the frame of mind to halt his hasty retreat, return to the scene and take the severed limb with him to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. However, efforts by doctors at the hospital failed to reattach Peter Anthony Murphy’s limb. Cheno Bisphan, the man who chopped Murphy, changed his not guilty plea to one of guilty yesterday, after the matter began before Justice Alice York Soo-Hon, in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court.

Justice Soo-Hon will sentence Bisphan on June 17, after his  attorney, Gordon Lamaine, makes his plea in mitigation. According to State prosecutor Nalini Singh and Jennifer Martin, Woodbrook resident Murphy, who was 39 at the time, went to visit a friend at Harp Place, East Dry River, on July 31, 1997, at about 8.45 am. On reaching the ground floor of the building on his way out he was accosted by Bisphan, who said to him, “Redman, pass something.” Murphy replied, “nah me nah man.” Bisphan then stated, “Ah taking it,” and put his hand in Murphy’s pocket. Murphy slapped away Bisphan’s hand and pulled a small knife he had with him.

Another man who was standing nearby ran up to Murphy and took away the knife. Bisphan left but Murphy was made to wait. When Murphy eventually left, he saw Bisphan running towards him with a cutlass in his upraised hand. Murphy ran, but Bisphan caught up with him and chopped off Murphy’s left hand. Murphy was also chopped on his right index finger. In an attempt to escape, Murphy then ran about ten feet, stopped, turned around and went back to pick up the severed limb which was on the ground. He and the limb were taken to the hospital. Bisphan was subsequently arrested and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.