A Barrackpore man who allegedly breached a protection order and stabbed his estranged wife and son was denied bail yesterday when he appeared before a Siparia magistrate yesterday.
Harripersad Roopchand, 52, a gardener, was not asked to plead to the two charges of unlawful and malicious wounding before Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert.
Roopchand’s wife, Shanti, 45, and son, Premchand, who had a bandage on his face and his left arm in a sling, were in court when the matter was called.
It is alleged that on December 29, Roopchand unlawfully and maliciously wounded his wife and son at their Pancham Trace, Barrackpore, home. It is alleged that he stabbed his wife, then chopped his son when he intervened. Both were warded at the San Fernando General Hospital for some time.
Roopchand was arrested and charged by Sgt Davis Lewis. His attorney Ramnarine Soorjansingh asked for bail, claiming that his client has three children, no previous convictions and two pending matters.
Police prosecutor Sgt Starr Jacob objected to bail and told the court Roopchand had two similar matters pending before the court. She said in January 2017 he appeared in the same court on two charges of assault against his wife and another relative and was granted bail on the condition that he stay away from the victims. Jacob said he breached that order by entering the house where the alleged acts were committed.
Upholding the prosecutor’s objection, Alert said based on the circumstances the accused is a danger to his wife and son.
“The best place for you is inside,” she told him as she advised him of right to apply to a judge in chambers for bail.
Roopchand will reappear in court on January 30.