THREE months after being charged for the attempted murder of Renesha Maxwell, the case against four women has been withdrawn and a wounding charge instituted.

On January 28, Jennifer Validen, a 28-year-old mother of three of Albouystown; Alana Holder, a 28-year-old mother of three of East La Penitence; Gailann Marks, a 21-year-old mother of two of West Ruimveldt and Latifah DaCosta, a 26-year-old mother of one of Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara, made their first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

During that hearing before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, they were not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on January 21, 2022, at Princess Street, Georgetown, they caused grievous bodily harm to Maxwell with intent to commit murder.

They were eventually granted $500,000 bail after spending weeks on remand.

On Monday, the charge was withdrawn and a joint wounding charge was instituted. It is now alleged that the quartet maliciously wounded the victim with intent to disfigure her and cause bodily harm.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge and are required to report to the Alberttown Police Station at 18:00hrs every Friday.

The magistrate also ordered the women to stay five feet away from Maxwell.

The case was adjourned until June 6, 2022.

According to the court prosecutor, the four women and Maxwell were once best friends. At the time of the incident they were not on speaking terms due to a misunderstanding.

On the day in question, while the victim was at Leopold Street, Georgetown, the four women threw a liquid substance on her. She later fled the area in a taxi.

The quartet gave chase in a motor car. The taxi Maxwell was in was forced to stop after the motor car the women were in blocked its path and the four defendants exited.

It is alleged that Validen threw a liquid substance on Maxwell which caused a burning sensation about her body.

Maxwell was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and after being seen by a doctor, she was admitted.