Rage and race lead neighbours to war

A PREGNANT mother of eight testified in the San Fernando High Court yesterday against her neighbour who is accused of chopping her five times about her body.

Mary Mollineau, of 7 mile mark, Penal Rock Road, Penal, said Deochan Ramnath, also known as Sangram Ramnath, came with a cutlass in each hand into her yard and shouted: “Is a long time I have this for you. I eh like nigger”. At the time of the incident, Mollineau, whose children’s ages ranged from 19 to two years old, said she and Ramnath were not on speaking terms. Ramnath is accused of attempted murder and committing grievous bodily harm against Mollineau, on October 17, 2000.

The trial is being heard in the Third Criminal Court before Justice Pamela Elder and a nine-member jury, with State attorney Didanath Ramkissoon leading the prosecution’s case, and Frank Seepersad for the defence. Mollineau said the incident occurred around 5 pm while she was alone at her home. She was sitting in her gallery after she had sent her children to fetch water in a pond, which is almost a two-hour walk from her house. The woman recalled that Ramnath, who lived in a house behind hers, came into her yard armed with a gilpin and a swiper, and started hurtling obscenities at her.

Mollineau said she walked down her steps and was looking down the road for her children when Ramnath attacked her with the cutlass. She told the court: “I get two chop on my head, one on each side. And I get two chop on my waist and two on my foot. I fell to the ground. I get dizzy and start to roll”. Under cross-examination, Mollineau said that as Ramnath chopped her she began screaming, but none of her neighbours came out to lend assistance. The mother said that when she recovered, she took a taxi to the Penal Police Station where she made a report. The prosecutor said that Mollineau was taken by the police to the San Fernando General Hospital for treatment. Later that day, PC Maharaj visited the scene of the crime and seized two cutlasses, and subsequently laid charges against the accused. The case continues today.