HIMCHAND Kenswim, called ‘Papcorn,’ who admitted to lashing a man to his head with a piece of wood, thereby causing injuries, was on Wednesday sent home after spending 19 months on remand for attempted murder.

High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon ordered that Kenswim be released on time served after the attempted murder accused opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of causing grievous bodily harm.

Kenswim, 25, admitted that on April 14, 2017, at Durban Backlands, Georgetown, he caused grievous bodily harm to Trevor Spence.

According to reports, both parties had an exchange of words because Kenswim was sitting on Spence’s front step and refused to move.

Spence became annoyed and reported the matter to the nearby police station. However, on his return, he was confronted by Kenswim, who dealt him several lashes to his head with a piece of wood. As a result Spence was hospitalised for over five days.

The state was represented by prosecutors Nafeeza Baig, Tuanna Hardy, and Tiffani Lyken, while Kenswim was represented by attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon.

Justice Kissoon explained that the charge of grievous bodily harm carries a jail term of 18 months, while Kenswim had been on remand for 19 months while awaiting trial.

Justice Kissoon said that that length of time in itself represented a sentence, and in the circumstances imposed a sentence of time served.