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Man sentenced to three years in prison for severely chopping fellow taxi driver
Georgetown Magistrates’ Court
Kaieteur News – A 33-year-old driver was on Friday sentenced to three years in prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for severely wounding a taxi driver.
Andrey Baired, also known as ‘Dog Face,’ from Lot ‘P’ Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Charles De Jonge by using a cutlass to chop his right arm, with the intent to harm, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm.
The incident occurred on May 21, 2023, at the intersection of Brickdam Road and Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown. Baired was arrested on September 18, 2024, and subsequently charged with the grievous offense.
During the court proceedings, Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty read the charge to Baired, who pleaded guilty with an explanation. He recounted to the court that De Jonge on May 20, 2023 had attacked him first by punching him to his face. He stated, “This guy (De Jonge) walked past all the cars and reached my car. I was in my seat at the time, and he held me up and start punch me all over. He loosened me, pulled a knife, and jook me.”
Seeking revenge, Baired returned to the same location the following day. He told the court, “When I spotted De Jonge in his car, I ended up dealing him a chop to his right arm with a cutlass from my car trunk, and I fled the scene… I had the cutlass waiting for him,” he admitted.
Magistrate McGusty then allowed De Jonge to present his side of the story. De Jonge explained that he had been working as a taxi driver in the area for years and had noticed that new drivers were not following the usual procedures, taking advantage of other taxi drivers. Out of frustration, he approached Baired and punched him twice in the face. He added, “Later that day, I saw Andrey, and two police approached me. I went to the outpost (in Stabroek) where I was granted station bail, and the matter was dealt with.”
On the following day, while driving and waiting for traffic to ease at the junction of Cornhill Street and Brickdam Road, De Jonge placed his right arm on the car window and his left hand on the steering wheel. He was paying attention to the road when he felt like something stung him on his right arm. He recounted, “I felt my hand pounding; when I took a look, I saw my hand fall, and I saw my bone. I then saw Andrey with a cutlass; he was running.” He further stated, “I went to the hospital (Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation), and the doctor told me I won’t be able to use my hand; however, I saw much improvement.”
After considering both sides of the argument, Magistrate McGusty determined that Baired was in the wrong due to the premeditated nature of the attack. Acknowledging that Baired did not waste the court’s time by admitting to the charge, he was sentenced to three years in prison.
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