Disabled man on wounding trial

Taking the stand yesterday, the accused — Junior Thomas, 29, of New Lands, Point Fortin — told Justice Anthony Carmona and a nine-member jury that it was “totally impossible” for him to “pelt” a stab at anyone, while walking with crutches.

Thomas is on trial for wounding Brian Broadbelt, 43, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The incident is alleged to have occurred on September 11, 2004, at Millette Street, Point Fortin. It is alleged Thomas stabbed Broadbelt in the chest and wrist following a heated argument.

Thomas, led by his attorney Roger Ramgoolam, told the court his leg was severed in an accident in 2002. He testified that on September 11, 2004, he went to a park on Millette Street to take a bath at a standpipe. There, he saw Broadbelt walking down the road holding a “stem” (device used for smoking cocaine). “How you could smoke cocaine in the road? ” Thomas related to the court. “He told me, ‘Don’t tell me what to do boy’ and I told him, ‘Why you don’t stop smoking that thing’.” He continued by saying he jokingly told Broadbelt: “Look the police coming.” “That tripped him off,” Thomas told the court. He added that Broadbelt began behaving in an aggressive manner. Thomas told the court as he walked away he was pursued by Broadbelt who cursed him. “I see him pull out a knife and coming towards me in an aggressive manner. I know I cannot fight he (sic). Is only one leg I have, so I hold on to his hands and the crutches fell away,” Thomas testified. The accused said Broadbelt fought him off in an attempt to free his hands and in so doing, fell against him.

“I did not know he got wounded,” Thomas said, “but while on the ground I saw blood spraying up on my chest.”

Thomas said Broadbelt got up and wrapped his jersey around his hand. The accused added that he (Thomas) crawled on the road to reach for his crutches. The trial continues today