A woman who was attacked two and a half years ago by a man wielding a hammer, who hit her over the head several times in her shop, is complaining about the process of the trial and slow progress in it. The two-and-a-half year-old case involves Hyacinth Sutherland a businesswoman from Highgate in St Mary, and 21-year-old Joseph McIntosh of Frazer Wood in the same parish. McIntosh is before the Richmond Resident Magistrate Court on assault charges after it is alleged that he used a hammer to repeatedly hit Cynthia Sutherland on January 7, 2012.
Reports are that on the night in question, Sutherland was closing her business, a grocery shop near to Highgate square, when she was allegedly attacked by a man who covered his face in a T-shirt as a disguise. It is alleged that the man used a hammer to hit Sutherland over the head while swearing and using expletives as he attacked her. Sutherland managed to raise an alarm and was assisted by her son who helped to disarm the accused and remove the disguise, revealing a man they claimed they knew as McIntosh. The accused is further alleged to have made good his escape by jumping over a fence.
It was reported that the accused left the community for Kingston and returned in June 2012 when he was charged. The case has come up in the Richmond RM Court several times. At one time when McIntosh had been absent for two hearings, the magistrate ordered a bench warrant for his arrest.
APOLOGY
McIntosh has maintained his innocence. He is out on $50,000 bail. Ms Sutherland at one hearing told the court that McIntosh had apologized to her and she had asked him why he was doing so since he claimed in court he was innocent. McIntosh is unrepresented and has cross examined Sutherland who insisted he was the one who attacked her.
At the most recent hearing, Monday, September 8, McIntosh brought along his girlfriend to support his alibi that he was not in St Mary at the time of the incident. However, the woman told the court she was living in Kingston with an aunt and that he had come to visit her but she did not know the specific dates. McIntosh told the court that he is now a Christian and studying to become an evangelist. Sutherland says she had been told since July by the court that she need not return to court but she has insisted on going as she wants justice. The case is to be called up again Wednesday, September 24.
