A man charged with causing grievous bodily harm in January 2004 gave evidence this week, explaining why he was carrying the weapon used to inflict the injuries.
George Ian Duffel told the court that he had taken a shingling hammer from his friend’s grandfather’s house the night of the incident.
He and his companions were planning to go to Seven Mile Beach. He had no money and a bad urge for cocaine. The hammer was for cars.
Questioned by his attorney, Nicholas Dixey, Mr. Duffel agreed that he was looking for an opportunity to steal. Asked what the hunting was like on Seven Mile Beach, the defendant replied, ‘A thieves’ paradise’.
When Mrs. Justice Priya Levers asked him to repeat, he told her: ‘thieves…plural’.
Earlier in his evidence, he referred to a series of thefts he and two companions had committed on one evening the previous week, breaking into cars to steal money.
He smashed the window of a car with a hammer or lug wrench. But it was not indiscriminate destruction, he told the court. He looked first to see if there was a bag inside the vehicle.
Duffel said they broke into five cars that night, taking about US$7,700 and CI$400 or $500.
‘We went kind of wild after that,’ he acknowledged. He mentioned buying one ounce of rock cocaine, hitting all the clubs and going on a spree, and buying clothes from a merchant working out of his car.
Mr. Duffel pleaded guilty to the thefts in Summary Court and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
In the matter currently before the court, Mr. Duffel has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Tyroll Powell.
He said he had considered Powell to be his best friend and explained the conflicts that arose between them. He has admitted striking Mr. Powell with the hammer. However, he has maintained that Mr. Powell was advancing towards him and Mr. Duffel knew Mr. Powell wanted to damage him.
The defendant elected trial by judge alone. Crown Counsel Andre Mon Desir is conducting the case for the prosecution. The matter was expected to conclude this week.
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