PENELOPE CASTELLO, a businesswoman of Lot 52, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, is seeking justice for the wound she received at the hands of a man who severely chopped her on April 15 last, but is walking free. The 52-year-old woman, who operates the Kozy Nook Restaurant and Bar told the Guyana Chronicle that on the evening of April 15 there was an incident at her business place in which a patron called “Country” (only name given) started a fight with a woman, both of whom were at the karaoke session that night.
The same man also had allegedly chopped Mrs. Castello’s son in 2005 and got away scot free.
She explained that she recognised that there would be trouble and locked away her son and a cousin in the premises after the man began pelting bottles, but he left after the young woman went away.
Mrs. Castello added that the very young man returned at about 02:00hrs in the morning and she asked him why he broke up so many bottles at her business place and with that he told her that it was no disrespect and as she was about to enter her yard by the gate she felt a sharp pain in her left side.
By the time the woman looked blood was pouring from the wound. The man had almost sliced off her left arm with a knife and she began screaming for help. The wound was covered with pieces of cloth as she applied pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.
The mother of four added that she was taken to the hospital where the wound was stitched, but up to now she is still in severe pain and has not regained the full use of her arm.
“I cannot sleep at nights, is sheer pain I am in and the wound sometimes bleeds and it burns and yet I cannot get justice because I never touched him, I just asked why he came and started trouble and he sliced me,” she said:
Displaying the wound, Mrs. Castello said that although the matter was reported to the police and a statement was taken the suspect, who is often seen in the area, is yet to be arrested.
The woman stated that she has since met with the man’s mother but to date she is still waiting on compensation and most times the fingers of her left arm are often numb and she cannot raise the arm properly.
Given the severity of the wound, Mrs. Castello said she is fortunate to be alive but is in so much pain and still has a business to run to support herself, and as such needs justice for what was done to her by the man.
The businesswoman said that the suspect is a known character to the police, since he has been involved in several chopping incidents and fights in which he injured several persons, but the police have failed to apprehend him.
Mrs. Castello told the Guyana Chronicle with tears in her eyes that it is unfair what was done to her and just wants the suspect to answer for inflicting such pain in her life.
The woman said that the suspect also broke her window while pelting bricks in her yard and home.