| Probation report orderedThe trial of Waliaferro Joseph, called “Wally”, 43, who is accused of attempting to murder his one time lover, Uneatha McLean, 24, on January 7, 2010 at Number 57,China Jerseys, Corentyne Berbice, ended on Thursday with Joseph being found guilty.He was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed Jury in the Berbice High Court.When the matter continued on Thursday, both State Prosecutor Attorney at Law Stacey Goodings and the accused, who conducted his own defence addressed the jury. The jury retired around 16:00 hrs and took about two hours before returning with a unanimous verdict.When asked if he had anything to say, the accused stated, “I have faith; I believe Christ has a plan for me. I leave everything in his hands.”He said that he is still pleading his innocence, since he was not represented by a counsel because he could not afford one.He also told the court that he was a good man and many persons including police officers could attest to that.He said that he has three kids age 21, 20 and five.Justice Reynolds ordered a probation report.State Prosecutor Stacey Goodings had no problem with the report. At the time of the incident the virtual complainant was only about 20 and suffered immensely. She stated that ‘her tubes’ were affected and the fact that she is not yet a mother tells of her wounds, which numbered five.The accused in response stated that the reason that the complainant is not yet a mother is not his, because during the time they were together she was pregnant a number of times, and the babies disappear.Prosecutor Stacey Goodings, told the court that on the day in question McLean, a housewife, was at the bottom flat of her residence when she suddenly felt someone grab her neck and mouth.She recognized the man and subsequently tried to free herself but during her struggles she was stabbed a number of times.She managed to escape and was met by police ranks, who rescued her. She was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital for emergency surgery and subsequently, to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical intervention.During the trial, the prosecution called a number of witnesses including the complainant sister Carrie Ann Prince and Doctor Rajnauth Thakoordeen, who testified to examining McLean.The woman had five injuries, all of which bled profusely and were life-threatening. Some were lacerations while some were stab wounds.Joseph had given an unsworn statement from the dock. He stated that he shacked up with McLean in February 2006 in Georgetown. He said it was the woman who got his number from a friend and began contacting him. After a while she invited him to her home on the Corentyne.They subsequently went back and forth during the time and encountered numerous problems.On the day in question, he was again invited home by the VC.They were together in a room when her sister and a relative arrived, and after finding out that he was in the room, they surrounded the house and gave him a good beating. During that time they chopped and stabbed McLean.He mentioned being told by McLean of being given a pillow that her mother had collected from an obeah man so she could forget him.He told the court that ”Sir the only thing was to allow myself to be lured to the woman’s house for a little bit of sex.”Also called to the witness stand were Assistant Superintendent of Police David Renee, Police Lance Corporal Pinkey Watts and Police Constable Fitzroy Nicholson.He will have to return to court on May 24, for sentence. |
