Ex-lover to go on trial for attempting to murder ‘child mother’

Jun 27, 2018 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Forty-six-year-old Cleveland Williams was yesterday committed to stand trial at the High Court in Georgetown for attempting to kill his daughter’s mother, whom he said accidentally fell on a knife – twice – that was in his hand.

Cleveland Williams

Williams, of 70 D’Urban Street, Lodge, who worked at the popular HJ Water World as a maintenance man, was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that on April 17, at D’Urban Street, Lodge, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Loshanna Boyce with intent to commit murder.
The two previously shared a relationship and have a two-year-old daughter, whom the mother had just dropped to school when the incident took place.
At the conclusion of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) yesterday, Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman ruled that there was sufficient evidence against Williams for him to stand trial before a judge and jury.
Williams will go on trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves yesterday maintained his objection to bail, citing the serious nature of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts.
According to court facts, the incident escalated from an argument between Boyce and Williams, after he confronted her about some snacks she was supposed to collect for their daughter.
Williams denied that he had stabbed the woman intentionally and claimed that he took out the knife during the altercation and they ended up in the trench while fighting. He further stated that he had just slapped her and then his family came out to part them.
Williams throughout the PI maintained that he did not deliberately stab the woman and told the court that she accidentally fell on the knife twice during the scuffle.
Boyce had a restraining order against him due to domestic abuse.
Williams in pleading with the Magistrate to grant him bail stated “I’m sorry, it was an accident. I accidentally got myself into this problem because my vision blur.”
Williams added that he would like to be given the opportunity to work and provide for his children until his matter is called in the High Court.
Despite his pleas, bail was denied and he was remanded.