Man on bail for stabbing one woman, charged with stabbing another

A Rilland Hill man, accused of viciously stabbing a fellow villager in January 2016, was earlier this week brought before the Serious Offences Court on a similar charge.

On Wednesday, Grafton McDowall appeared before the court charged with the attempted murder of Ethel King of Rilland Hill on April 3, 2017. He is further charged that on that same date and place he entered King’s dwelling home and had an offensive weapon, to wit, a pair of scissors.

Both charges laid were indictable and the Rilland Hill resident, believed to be in his 30s, was not required to enter a plea. When the question of bail arose, senior prosecutor Adolphus Delpesche objected on two grounds.

Delpesche pointed out that the virtual complainant in the case is a 65-year-old retired teacher, who is currently warded at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital nursing stab wounds, one of which penetrated one side of her jaw and went through to the other side. She is in a stable, but serious condition.

The prosecutor noted that King has served the country for her entire life and now she is supposed to be resting at home, she cannot.

Delpesche also pointed out that McDowall is currently on bail from the High Court for a matter of an identical nature and although the charges are allegations at this point, they are very serious ones.

McDowall is currently before the High Court charged with aggravated burglary and attempting to kill Lorna Daniel of Rilland Hill on January 14, 2016.

It is alleged that around one o’clock that morning, Daniel, a farmer, awoke to find a man standing over her, stabbing her repeatedly about her body. The Preliminary Inquiry into that incident began on June 27, 2016.

On Wednesday, Delpesche told the court that he trusts that the investigating officer, PC Chambers, would

expedite the matter.

Bail was not granted and a preliminary inquiry into King’s stabbing is scheduled for July 17, 2017. (AS)