Giovanni Henry Borland, 23, of Western Pines, Mile 8, George Price Highway, Belize District, is clinging to life in the intensive care unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) after suffering a chop wound to the head with a machete.
The man who allegedly chopped him, Joseph West, was taken to the Corozal Magistrate’s Court, where he appeared in front of Magistrate Hurl Hamilton, yesterday, Tuesday, and was charged with attempted murder, grievous harm, dangerous harm, and aggravated assault. He has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until July 21.
The incident occurred at about 10:30 Sunday night, May 11, in front of a bar in Libertad, Corozal District. Three men in Libertad became involved in a fight with a machete. Denmar West, 23, of Libertad Village, Corozal District, suffered a cut to the forehead, and there was a swelling above his right eye.
Joseph West, 27, Denmar’s brother, also of Libertad, suffered a cut wound to the right thumb and Giovanni Borland, 34, was chopped in the head.
Police said that on Sunday night, in the bar in Libertad, Joseph West became involved in an altercation with Giovanni Borland.
According to police, West walked out of the bar and went towards another bar, which was about two lanes away, and on the way he got his machete, but Borland, who was following him, saw him with the machete, went after West and took away the machete. In the struggle for it, however, West was cut on his thumb.
Another struggle for the machete began, and this time, West took back the machete from Borland.
Denmar West, who is Joseph West’s brother, came out of the bar and was going home when he allegedly was attacked by Borland, who allegedly threw an object at him, hitting him in the forehead.
Joseph West, who saw what had happened to his brother, chased Borland.
But according to police, Borland stumbled and fell, and West, who was behind him, chopped him in the head with the machete while he was on the ground.
The three warring men were taken to the Corozal Hospital, where the two brothers were treated and released. Joseph West, however, was released into police custody, while Borland was rushed to the KHMH for further treatment, where he was admitted in a critical condition.