AN uncle and his nephew have been admitted patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital and are being treated for wounds they inflicted on each other. The two were reportedly involved in a heated argument yesterday just before 08:00 hrs, which led to 52-year-old Leon Duke dousing his nephew, 33-year-old Trevor Duke, with hot oil.

Reports are that the feud stemmed from an argument they had earlier in the week. One resident of the community where the fracas occurred told the Chronicle that the older of the two men was in the habit of provoking the younger one, who at times would leave the premises to avoid a confrontation.

The dousing with hot oil occurred at their Lot 107 Amla Avenue home in Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, where the younger Duke lived with other relatives. This newspaper was told that after Duke threw the oil on his  nephew, the latter went into the house for a cutlass; upon seeing this, the uncle reportedly beat a hasty retreat, with his nephew in hot pursuit. The young man eventually caught up with his uncle on Sheriff Street, where he dealt him several chops about the body.

A close relative said Duke lost his hand while attempting to contain the chops.

This publication was informed that the elder Duke does not live at the Prashad Nagar residence, although he is a frequent visitor there. He lives on D’Urban Street, Lodge.

Yesterday, the men’s relatives locked their windows and doors to avoid having to talk to the Chronicle. Neighbours also would only say that the elder Duke had a provocative attitude that could “drive anyone up a wall,” and that he would, in most cases, cause his nephew to become incensed.

A source close to the duo told this publication that while there are suggestions that the ordeal may have stemmed from an earlier argument in the week, there may be some other side to the story.

A police rank investigating the incident told the Chronicle that a total of three charges are likely to be split between the duo, in that the uncle is likely to be charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his nephew, and throwing a corrosive substance. The nephew, the rank suspects, would be charged only with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his uncle.

On December 27 last, an uncle killed his young nephew in what investigators and relatives claimed was a homosexual relationship fraught with jealousy. That incident occurred at Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice. The killer had reportedly hid himself in a house the nephew was in with his girlfriend, and knifed him to death.