JOSIAH Tappel (no address given) appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday, charged with discharging a loaded firearm and inflicting grievous bodily harm. The indictable charges said, on February 7, with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm, the accused discharged the loaded firearm at Aaron Hunter and unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on him.
Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey, prosecuting, said the accused is the virtual complainant’s brother-in-law.
The prosecutor said, that day, Hunter heard his sister screaming and, upon investigating, saw Tappel beating his sister and went to her rescue.
Tappel became annoyed with Hunter, pulled the gun from his waist and fired it, hitting the latter on his left knee and causing him to be hospitalised.
The prosecutor said the patient is in a stable condition and he has no objection to bail but requested that the sum be substantial.
Defence Counsel Neil Boston claimed, though, that the injury suffered by the virtual complainant was self-inflicted.
The accused was ordered to post $200,000 surety and return to court on February 15.