Pensioner found guilty of wounding neighbour

AFTER imposing a $1,500 fine on an 80-year-old man who was found guilty of chopping his neighbour, a High Court judge yesterday urged both victim and defendant to put aside their differences. Justice Malcolm Holdip told the two men, “You all are adults and have to conduct yourself at least neighbourly. You all have to try and mend fences and cut down the bad blood.” Pensioner Gunness Ramjattan of Penal Rock Road was found not guilty by a jury on the charge of attempting to murder Ivan Dookie, but guilty on the lesser count of wounding with intent. Ramjattan’s son Krishendath Gunness, who was jointly charged with attempted murder, was found not guilty. He was defended by attorney Subhas Panday. The trial was held in the San Fernando Second Criminal Assizes with prosecutor Narissa Ramsundar leading the State’s case.

The incident occurred on March 31, 1998, at around 6.30 pm, when it was alleged that Ramjattan  chopped Dookie on two of his fingers, his elbow and head. Ramjattan’s attorney Chateram Sinanan pleaded in mitigation that only Dookie’s fingers were seriously wounded in the incident. The court heard, however, that because of these wounds Dookie, 41, had to forsake his job as a chain-saw operator and now receives public assistance. Ramjattan testified that Dookie, armed with a cutlass, came into his yard at Ribero Trace. Dookie told the court he was drinking alcohol at a nearby shop that day. The pensioner said when the two began to fight, he acted in self-defence when Dookie was chopped. Holdip remarked that Ramjattan’s actions were improper. “That is no way to operate with a neighbour after 15 years. All of a sudden on March 31, 1998, blood spilled and Dookie ended up in hospital,” the judge told the pensioner.