By Cherisse Sutton
Reporter SKNVibes.com
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| Lenford Gumbs aka Bias on his way to prison. | |
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(Basseterre; St. Kitts): Lenford Gumbs alias Bias was found guilty for wounding with intent on Wed. Jan. 17 and not guilty for attempted murder.
His Lordship Francis Belle then ordered Gumbs to be taken into custody until his sentencing which is set for Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Several witnesses testified that Gumbs on July 16, 2006 stabbed Llewellyn Berkeley but no one said that they saw the actual stabbing.
The witnesses, Bernadette Duncan of Pat's Two Way Bar, Joseph Morton, Corporal Denzil Edwards, Dr. Wilkinson and the complainant Berkeley all testified on Jan. 16.
According to Berkeley on July 16, 2006 he left his home to get something to eat at Marlon's restaurant on Cardin Avenue and while there a friend called him and he then went across to meet him by Pats Two Way Bar where Gumbs and others were playing Dominos.
He said that his friend Jimmy offered him a drink which he refused then Bias started telling him things about his mother and he responded.
Berkeley said: "I turned off cause I couldn't take no confusion wid Bias then while I walking going up de road I feel somebody push me down and give me two stab in me chest."~~adz:right~~
"After that I say Lord give me de strength to see somebody to help me then I walked for a while and fell down by Marlon's restaurant and I don't even know who took me to the hospital."
According to a number of the witnesses there was an argument between the two men but when they were asked what was said they couldn't recall. One witness also said she ran behind Berkeley when he left in order to see if Gumbs would do him anything but did not see the moment the stabbing took place because she couldn't see around the corner.
Gumbs in his defense said while he was at the bar playing Dominos he bought a bottle of Appleton for him and his friends and Jimmy offered a drink to Berkeley but Gumbs refused to give Berkeley a drink because he was not his friend.
Gumbs said Berkeley then turned to him and said, "You think you could always control people drink," then he replied to him and said "You just can't have a drink cause is my drink".
Gumbs said Berkeley began to get ignorant and said he would do him all sorts of things.
"Then I turned to my friend and say this look like it gon come out to be confusion so for peace sake I am going home. I told my friend he could have de rest drink cause am going home then I walked off," said Gumbs. ~~adz:Left~~
"When I turned off Berkeley was on de side of a fence then I proceeded to my house. While about 100 feet away I heard this running behind me so I turned around and I saw Berkeley running towards me with his hand in his side pulling out something long and shiny. I had a nail in my head so I took it out and dig him twice in he chest then I run for my life because I don't know what else he was coming with or wanted to do me, I just run for my life".
The defense maintained a case of self-defense as his lawyer Hesketh Benjamin said in his deliberation, "The law allows you to defend yourself."
The prosecution stressed the point that his wounds were 'life-threatening' and if it wasn't for medical assistance Berkeley could have died.
