Latest update March 24th, 2025 7:05 AM
Colwyn Harding assault trial…Matter further adjourned as Prosecutor requests more time
The assault trial involving two members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Colwyn Harding was once again adjourned and given another date, when it was called yesterday in the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
Colwyn Harding
Police Constables Devin Singh and Roselle Tilbury-Douglas have been on trial since last year, for allegedly assaulting Harding with a condom-covered baton.
At yesterday’s court hearing, Tilbury-Douglas and Attorney Glenn Hanoman were absent. Prosecutor Nigel Hughes, Attorney Leslie Sobers and Singh were seen seated in the courtroom minutes before the matter was called.
When the orderly called the parties’ names they all stood promptly. At that time, the prosecutor requested a three-week adjournment.
Attorney Sobers had no objections to the request, and all were informed by Magistrate Leron Daly, to return on September 21, for continuation.
Singh, of Lot 125 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara and Tilbury-Douglas, of Alliance Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, are jointly charged with assaulting Harding during the period November 1 to November 13, 2013, at the Timehri Police Station, so as to cause him actual bodily harm.
Devin Singh was also slapped with an additional assault charge.
The duo first appeared before Former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and had denied the allegation. Singh has been released on $200,000 bail while his colleague is on $100,000 bond.
Attorneys Hanoman and Sobers are representing Tilbury-Douglas and Singh respectively.
Harding had given an emotional testimony at his June 25, court appearance. However, the Magistrate had adjourned the matter to July 24, because Harding started to shed tears while in the witness box.
On that date, the matter was further adjourned to yesterday’s date after Prosecutor, Nigel Hughes, failed to present himself for the court hearing.
Hanoman and Sobers, have made applications before the court to have the charges against their clients dismissed. At one hearing Hanoman had contended that the prosecution was unable to satisfy the court, during the trial which has been on-going since last year. The attorney had argued that his client has been interdicted from work for over a year and has also suffered financial constraints.
But despite these submissions, the Magistrate has refused to dispose of the matter.
Harding has alleged that a policeman at the Timehri Police Station pushed a condom-covered baton in his anus in November 2013.
Harding, who was at the time a prisoner having been remanded for allegedly assaulting the cop and resisting arrest, suffered a ruptured intestine. He subsequently underwent corrective surgery in Jamaica, even as a dispute arose as to how he had come by his injuries.
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