Shot newspaper vendor’s family plans legal action

Aug 31, 2009 News

News paper vendor Veronica Atherly, who was shot accidentally on Saturday afternoon by a businessman, is at present in a stable condition at the Georgetown Hospital.
Yesterday when this newspaper visited Atherly, the woman’s hospital bed was heavily surrounded by praying relatives and other well wishers.
At the time of the visit, Atherly was receiving intravenous drips and a large tube had been inserted into her abdomen.
A sister of the victim told this newspaper that Atherly is speaking to relatives, but is constantly complaining of a severe pain in the abdomen.
The woman expressed concern that her eldest sister could have lost her life while tending to her business.
“My sister was sitting trying to make a living she wasn’t doing anybody anything and he just come and shooting wild, he could have killed her”.
The woman’s husband Martin Atherly told this newspaper that they are seeking legal advice from their lawyer.
Meanwhile, hospital sources have told this newspaper that Atherly cannot eat anything, since doctors are uncertain if the bullet has exited her body.
She is expected to have an x-ray done today to determine if the bullet is still lodged within her body.
The 59-year old newspaper vendor was accidentally shot just below the navel on Saturday by a businessman who was attempting to wound a thief who had snatched his chain.
As the robber was fleeing, the businessman, who owns a licensed firearm, discharged several shots in the robber’s direction, but shot Atherly, who was sitting in front of her newspaper stand.
The businessman was detained at the City Constabulary. The woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by her brother Lennox Jackson.