Chopping after ‘cussing’ in Penal

A chopping attack on April 9 at Penal has left a 24-year-old gardener hospitalised and unable to use his right hand.

Boysie Russell, who lives at Quarry Road in Morne Diablo, is at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Relatives are calling for justice. They are also seeking financial compensation for the wounded man.

"Doctors said he would never be able to use his right hand. Gardening is his only means of income. The hand is getting blue and doctors want to remove it," his brother Ancil said.

"The people who did this should be arrested and charged. Boysie also needs to be compensated. He has been hospitalised three times after the incident."

The attack happened at Scotts Road in Penal while Russell was riding a bike on his way to a parlour.

A group of men beat and attacked him after they accused him of using obscene language.

Speaking by phone on behalf of the family, Ancil said, "The fellas were by a house drinking. They claimed my brother cussed them up, so they attacked him. He would not curse them."

A passerby found the wounded man and dropped him off by a relative, who took him to the hospital.

No one has been arrested and Penal police are investigating.