Man on attempted murder charge for dousing school boy with acid

Jun 26, 2016 News

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Kevin Joshua, called “Joshua Singh”, and “Puttu”,  27, formerly of Victoria Street, Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice is appearing before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed Jury in the Berbice High Court on two charges.

The charge stated that on July 11, 2011 at Victoria Street, Cumberland, Joshua threw a destructive substance on Harlan Rose, a schoolboy at the time of Cumberland Village East Canje Berbice with intent to murder him.

He is also charged with throwing the substance with intent to maim, disable, disfigure and cause grievously bodily harm on Rose.

Prosecutor Attorney at law, Stacey Goodings, revealed that on the day in question, Rose and others were on Victoria Street. At the time a commotion was being caused by Joshua who was beating his parents. Joshua subsequently came out of his yard with a hockey stick and challenged Rose to fight. He then went back inside and returned with the stick and a bottle with a corrosive substance inside and doused Rose with it. He then escaped.

Rose was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital in a critical condition.

Prosecutor Goodings told the jury that the accused had no justification for doing what he did nor was he acting in self defence.

The prosecution called four witnesses. The first to testify was police Detective Sergeant Gilbert Ross who related that he visited the scene and conducted an investigation. He retrieved a green bottle which was suspected to contain a corrosive liquid. He noticed a grassy patch which appeared to be burned with what was suspected to be acid. A number of persons were questioned but were reluctant to give a statement.

Under cross examination by defence attorney, Charrandass Persaud, the policeman stated that he left the bottle at the scene because it was empty. He knew both Rose and Joshua had medical certificates. He visited the scene on July 11 and July 12.  He subsequently contacted the accused at the Central Police Station.

Detective Constable Beharry Jaigopaul in his testimony stated that after receiving certain information he conducted an investigation into the matter. He visited the scene with a party of policemen on July 11 and July 12. He made checks for the accused but he was not found. The accused was subsequently nabbed in a police operation.

Under cross examination by Persaud, Jaigopaul said that he collected a damaged grey vest from the scene and subsequently lodged it at Eve Leary to be used as an exhibit. The exhibit subsequently could not be found.

Next on the witness stand was Wendy who in her evidence stated that she lives next to the accused. She and some relatives were in front of her yard talking. Joshua was beating his father in the backyard. He was pelting him with bottles and sticks, she said. Some of the missiles landed in her yard. She upbraided the man to be careful because the missiles could hit her children.

Joshua’s father who was being beaten asked her to call the police. She called the police, but they did not respond immediately. Subsequently Rose came up and asked for her brother-in-law, Deon Jackman, called “Yankee”, whom he wanted to take him to Georgetown the next day.

Rose subsequently joined the woman in their discussion. She mentioned that Joshua came out of his yard with a hockey stick and touched Rose and challenged him to fight.   The teen responded in the negative. Joshua left and returned with a bottle. He then chucked Rose and threw the contents of the bottle on him.

Rose began to scream and jumped into the drain stating that it’s burning. She jumped behind him and took him out. He jumped in again and the process was repeated. She subsequently called a taxi and rushed him to the New Amsterdam hospital.

Under cross examination the woman said that all those around received burns. She did not seek medical attention. “I am not making up anything because she was right there”, she said. She wants the accused to admit what he did.

In his testimony, Rose, called “Buck”, said that he was 15 or 16 at the time and was attending school at the time. He had gone to the area to make arrangement with “Yankee” to collect him the next morning.

He knew the accused by seeing him around the place and only knew him by his call name “Puttu”. He had seen the accused rob a big man before.

Rose testified that after learning that “Yankee” was not there. He began talking with the ladies. “A lot of noise was coming from Joshua yard…. He was beating his parents.”

They continued their conversation, as he was waiting for “Yankee” to come.   Joshua came out of his yard armed with a stick and took a swing at him and challenged him to fight.  He told Joshua that they don’t have a problem. The victim said Joshua then went inside and returned with a bottle with acid, which he threw on him. He began feeling a burning and jumped into the drain a few times. He was rushed to the Hospital where he remained for nearly a month. Rose received serious burns to his head, face and other parts of his body. He now has permanent scars.

Under cross examination he said that he never went into the man’s yard and it was Joshua who had the bottle of acid to throw on him.

Joshua is on $100,000 bail.

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