SEVENTY-four-year-old pensioner, Ashburn Mazarine of Old Road, Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast was seriously injured last Sunday night after thieves attacked him at his home.According to Mazarine, he and his wife were asleep when they were awakened by noises around 2:00 am Sunday morning.The pensioner said he got out of bed and began to investigate where the noise was coming from when he came under attack with broken bottles and bricks being hurled at him from a window that was opened in the kitchen.

The pensioner said he screamed for help as the bricks and bottles landed on him and he received several cuts to his face and head as his attackers tried to kill him. His wife said she dived for cover and hid as the attack started.

Mr Mazarine, who rears livestock said he has reported the matter to the police at Anna Regina,adding that he tried to recognise the two persons who tried to kill him.
He said thieves had previously attacked his home and beat him into unconsciousness;his wife was brutally raped in that attack.
Mazarine is appealing for help and he and his wife have moved out from the house because they are afraid that the thieves will return and kill them.

Meanwhile, residents of Old Road, Devonshire Castle are calling on the police to do more patrols in the village, especially in the late hours during the night. The village has a vigilante group but reports said thieves are still attacking villagers. Reports said the said night the pensioner was attacked several other residents said their doors were rocked by persons suspected to be thieves. (Rajendra Prabhulall)