Barkie charged with wounding 'Flowers'

THE suspect in the stabbing of an off-duty policeman is expected to appear before a Siparia magistrate today charged with five offences arising out of an incident on Saturday.

The construction worker, who is nicknamed “Barkie,” is charged with wounding PC Sterling “Flowers” Martin with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, using obscene language, having a weapon, behaving in a disorderly manner and resisting arrest.

Sgt Jaggernath of Siparia CID led the exercise and Cpl Sookoo laid the charges last night.

Martin, of the Guard and Emergency Branch, had emergency surgery on his neck on Saturday at the San Fernando General Hospital after being stabbed with a broken glass bottle.

Police said around 3.30 pm on Saturday, Martin was talking to a former policeman and another man at the Busy Corner Bar on Coora Road, Siparia. He saw the suspect cursing a woman and acting violently. He walked up to the man, identified himself as a policeman, and tried to quell the situation.

However, the suspect became enraged when the policeman held his arm to arrest him for using obscene language and behaving in a disorderly manner. The report said the suspect pulled away and continued cursing Martin while expressing his dislike of the police.

The suspect broke a glass bottle from the bar and stabbed Martin in the left side of his face and neck.

Martin has been discharged from hospital.