A video-still image of the chopping. The victim is on the ground.
Police have arrested the suspect in Saturday’s vicious chopping in Piaye, Laborie.
Acting Superintendent George Nicholas told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (Nov. 24) that the suspect, a young male, was arrested this morning and will “most likely” be charged tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 25.
The victim, Martin Mathurin, who is still at St. Jude Hospital in Vieux-Fort, was chopped multiple times by a male assailant during an altercation. A photo obtained by SNO showed Mathuring in a pool of blood with a partially severed ‘pinky’ finger.
Eyewitnesses said the victim sustained multiple wounds the arms and fingers, and other parts of the body, while trying to block the attacker’s lashes with the machete.
Nicholas said the suspect’s charges will depend on the extent of the victim’s injuries from the medical report. Nicholas said the charges could range from grievous harm to attempted murder.
On Sunday, a day after the incident, a 16-second video surfaced on social media of Mathurin being mercilessly chopped on the road by a male.
The incident reportedly occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
A Piaye resident alleged that a heated argument over a female turned physical – and bloody.
“The story is that Martin confronted the suspect about an issue with Martin’s female friend. During the confrontation I heard words were exchanged and Martin slapped (the suspect), though some people say the man throw the first strike. However, the suspect went for his machete and started chopping Martin,” a resident told SNO.
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