THE victim in the attempted murder case has admitted that he told a police officer a different story about the incident.
He said he was dizzy at the time and was not giving much attention to the police officer interviewing him at the hospital.
The following day, Sajjad Rahman said he gave the “true account” of the incident to Det. Marl Taisacan.
Rahman was in court yesterday to recount how he was attacked with a machete by Francisco M. Tydingco.
Rahman said Tydingco suddenly struck him with a machete on the left side of his head at a beach located south of Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio on July 1, 2001.
Rahman said he did not see that Tydingco was armed with a machete when he walked towards him. He said the incident happened at past 2 a.m.
Rahman said the defendant shouted something after hitting him and fled the area in a car.
The victim said he was bleeding profusely, but he still managed to drive to the Commonwealth Health Center.
Prior to the incident, Rahman said he went to a party at a house in Koblerville upon a friend’s invitation.
He said that while he and Khalid Nawas were drinking at a table, a man suddenly picked up their beer.
Rahman said nothing happened because the man later apologized to them.
The victim said he and Ali then decided to go because everybody started leaving the party.
Nawas was in the pick-up truck while waiting for his wife. Rahman said he was with Nawas because his car was parked beside the truck.
The victim said the defendant approached them and identified himself as “Frank.”
The defendant asked Nawas to engage in arm wrestling with him. The defendant also showed a long cut on his right arm.
“I know (the defendant) was looking for trouble. I told Nawas we better leave,” Rahman said.
Rahman said he got into his taxi and headed for home. Nawas was left because he was waiting for his wife. Rahman said that while he was driving along Beach Road, he noticed a car closely following him.
He said the car passed him then slowed down in front of him.
Rahman said Tydingco got out from the car and asked him to follow him to the beach.
“He was nice to me at the time, but I don’t know why I followed him,” he said.
At the parking lot, Rahman said he got out from his vehicle. Tydingco approached and struck him with machete. The victim said in the hospital he told a police officer a different story.
He said that as a result of his injuries, he was in the hospital for five to six days. And after a few months, a doctor from Hawaii “put back some bones” to his head.
“Now, I cannot move my left eyebrow,” he said.
Rahman was jobless for five months after that incident.
During cross examination by Assistant Public Defender Douglas Hartig, Rahman admitted that he told the first police officer a different story about the incident.
Rahman said he told the police that he picked up Tydingco in Garapan and later asked him to stop at the beach near PIC.
Hartig questioned Rahman regarding some details about his account of the incident and pointed out “inconsistencies.”
The government’s witness, Isidro Cruz Cabrera, testified on Wednesday that he saw the defendant at a Christening party in Koblerville on the evening of June 30, 2001.
Cabrera said they approached and asked Tydingco who invited him. The defendant answered it was “John,” but Cabrera said didn’t know who was that person.
Cabrera said he heard Tydingco threatening he would beat up “one of the Pakistanis.”
Tydingco is on jury trial for the charges of attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, aggravated assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
