CHRISTOPHER Bruce, who claimed that he is of unsound mind, yesterday appeared before Magistrate Priya charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

Bruce, who said he lives on the streets, denied the first allegation which said that, on August 12, at Alexander Street, Georgetown, he had a knife without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

He however accepted that, on August 10, at William Street, Kitty, he unlawfully assaulted his mother, Berta Bruce, so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

According to the virtual complainant, Bruce would usually assault her and threaten to take her life.

She recalled that Bruce previously threw a bench at her and injured her with a knife on another occasion.

But the defendant said he had the knife because he was about to cook and he claimed that people do all kinds of things to him because he’s of an unsound mind and would spend his nights on the streets.

Bruce explained that his mother threw out his pot and other belongings and he became angry and pelted a piece of wood up in the air.

He said he still cannot believe how straight his hand is as the wood came down and hit his mother.

The Magistrate sentenced Bruce to nine months imprisonment for the assault charge, and the unlawful possession allegation against him will be heard on September 14. He was refused bail on the latter charge.