Months after a Chinese supermarket proprietor was charged with attempted murder, the matter against him was yesterday dismissed.
Twenty-eight-year-old Xinoxi Qu of 1 B Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge with stated that on April 28, 2019 at Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, with the intent to commit murder, he wounded Sanmoogan Gregory.
According to information, on the day in question at around 08:30hrs, the victim went to the Fresco Supermarket and reportedly purchased some items which he paid for before leaving the store.
Shortly after, Gregory was said to have been standing on the Diamond Public Road when he was approached from behind by the defendant. Qu allegedly hit Gregory several times about his body with an object, after accusing him of removing a bag of money from his store.
The victim then went to the Grove Police Station where he reported the matter and was later rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. After that, he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was admitted for several days for his injuries.
The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the matter was conducted by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
This morning when the matter was called, the magistrate told the court that throughout the trial the prosecution did not provide evidence that the defendant acted unlawfully.
She added that the court is of the opinion that the defendant was merely trying to retrieve a bag which belonged to him. Hence, she ruled that the prosecution’s evidence at its highest is insufficient and dismissed the matter against the businessman.
Qu who is the owner of the Fresco Supermarket, was represented by Attorney-at-law George Thomas throughout trial.
