— jury in Collins attempted murder case hears

TAXI driver Joel Mc Curdy yesterday told Justice James Bovell-Drakes and a mixed jury that attempted murder accused Eon Collins, 29, who hired him from Georgetown to Parika in 2014 had attempted to kill him.
Mc Curdy was testifying against Collins when he explained that Collins hired him from outside Demico House, Georgetown and was heading for Parika,East bank Essequibo. But at Tuschen, he pointed to a village street where he pulled a knife from his bag with which he stabbed McCurdy in the chest in a frantic attempt to take over the car.
Mc Curdy put up a battle against his lone “passenger,” telling the jury that he fell out of the car in the process.

He told the jury that from where he was on the road, he was able to see Collins trying to remove the vehicle.
Witness said that he shouted to a group of building constructors a short distance away and they came to his assistance.
The witness said that he was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and later to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and subsequently to the Georgetown Hospital.
Joel Mc Curdy testified that he had to be taken back to hospital for further surgery.
Collins, who is charged with a two-count indictment, including wounding with intent and felonious wounding, allegedly committed on Taxi driver Joel Mc Curdy on January 27th 2014, at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, has pleaded not guilty.

After the jurors were selected and without any evidence being taken, the prosecution, led by Tamieka Clarke and Tuanna Hardy, requested a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of a caution statement which the accused had given to the police.
The judge had overruled the defence submission in the voir dire and ruled that the statement by the accused was freely and voluntarily made.
The substantive trial continues on Tuesday, when the prosecution will close its case.
The accused, who is conducting his own defence, has refused to cross-examine witnesses.