GT man denies throat slashing charge

Stabbing incident 16 June 2015

(CNS): A 38-year-old man from George Town has denied charges of attempted murder and unlawful wounding in connection with a dramatic throat slashing incident on the streets of the capital in broad daylight last month. David Andrew Bodden pleaded not guilty Friday when he appeared in Grand Court, represented by Amelia Fosuhene from Stenning and Associates. The local man was remanded in custody and is set to face trial in October.
Bodden is accused of stabbing Blake Barrell (31) in the throat after the two men were engaged in a road chase in the heart of George Town on 16 June. The vehicles in which Bodden and Burrell were driving collided in Fort Street before the men abandoned the cars and began fighting on the road. Police on patrol quickly intervened but not before Barrell’s throat was cut.

The incident is believed to be gang-related and may have connections to the recent acquittal of Jose Sanchez (28) for the murder of Special Olympic athlete, Solomon Webster. Barrell was originally arrested in the case accused of assisting Sanchez in the wake of the killing, while David Bodden was accused during the trial of witness tampering.

Sanchez was acquitted after the judge threw out the crown’s case at the halfway mark when prosecutors were unable to support the murder charge against Sanchez with any credible evidence. Last week Sanchez was charged with a firearms offence and was remanded in custody after just five weeks of freedom. He is due back in court later this month.