By Feona Morrison
A 35-year-old man is accused of getting married for a second time, after failing to end his first marriage, according to charges filed in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Michael Taylor, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, and a Ramp Attendant attached to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday, May 25, 2020.
Taylor, a father of two boys, ages five and three, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that he committed bigamy; he was released on $ 50,000 bail. He is due for another court appearance on July 09, 2020.
He was charged pursuant to Section 83(1) of Criminal Law (Offences) Act, which states, “Everyone, who being married, marries any other person during the life of the former husband or wife, whether the marriage takes place in Guyana or elsewhere, shall be guilty of a felony and liable to a term of imprisonment for seven years.”
According to the complaint, his first wife, Shena Somerset, 32, called in the police after finding out that her husband married another woman earlier this year, without legally ending their union- filing for divorce.
Somerset told Guyana Standard that she and Taylor tied the knot in August 2015. Like every married couple, the woman explained that she and her husband began experiencing problems.
According to her, they seperated in November last year, and he moved out of their marital home to go and live with his girlfriend. She added that communication between her and her spouse became non-existent.
But, Somerset got the shock of her life when she found out Taylor married his girlfriend earlier this year, while he was still married to her. She made this discovery during a visit to the General Registrar Office (GRO).
Guyana Standard was informed that Taylor and his second wife were married at GRO.
Somerset reported the matter to the police which led to her husband being arrested and charged.
Guyana Standard understands that Taylor is claiming that he was unaware that he was still married to his first wife as she was the one who promised to file for divorce after he left their home.
According to Somerset, she and Taylor are currently engaged in a court case over his failure to support his children financially.
She claimed that she was forced to summons him to pay child support. He is three months in default on payments totalling some $97,000, she further claimed.
