ORLANDO Norris, of Lot 575 Haslington, had his guilty plea changed to not guilty after Magistrate Zamilla Ally listened to his explanation at Cove and John Court, also on East Coast Demerara.

The defendant’s Tuesday appearance was in answer to a charge of unlawful assault to cause bodily harm to Aubrey Sears.
In his explanation, the mason said the virtual complainant is his brother-in-law, who resides in the same house with him and his sister, but, habitually, smokes and would, sometimes, allow his friends to do the same on the premises.
Norris said, from time to time, he would warn Sears about his conduct and the two would engage in occasional fist fights but, apparently, all the warnings fell on deaf ears.
On Sunday, September 9, Norris told the court he became frustrated, took a few drinks and went home, where he and his brother-in-law got into an argument and he dealt him several lashes about the body with a piece of iron.
After listening to the narrative, the magistrate decided to conduct a trial and put Norris on $15,000 bail until November 2.