Flights to the US yesterday cancelled ? winds here and snow there to blame

All flights to the United States were cancelled yesterday as the east coast continued to be bombarded with snow and high winds.

Nevertheless airport general manager James Howes said yesterday he expects things to return to normal this morning ? although he urged all those scheduled to the travel to the US to check their departure times in light of significant adjustments to the schedule.

While confirming that the services of Air Canada and British Airways had departed as normal yesterday, Mr. Howes revealed high crosswinds at the airport had grounded several flights last night.

?We anticipate that flights will depart as normal tomorrow,? he said. ?But it is extremely important that people check with their airlines what time their flight is leaving as there have been some alterations to the schedule as a result of the weather. ?We are expecting the winds to moderate so there should not be any major problems (today).?

Meanwhile, Bermuda Weather Service spokesman Declan O?Connell said to expect winds in the range of 25 to 30 knots, gusting to gale force. ?We?ve certainly had the worst of the rain and there may be a couple of showers,? he added. ?But the thing to stress is that the wind should shift to be head on with the runway so although it will be fairly breezy, there should not be any problems (today).?

Two men stabbed in separate incidents

Police are investigating two serious knife attacks over the weekend which left two men in hospital.

A man was stabbed in the back and had his chain ripped off his neck in front of his girlfriend outside Swinging Doors on Court Street, at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Yesterday, in Southampton, another man received serious head injuries at his Horseshoe Road home.

The victim, a 48-year-old Pembroke man, was taken to hospital after being punched in the face and body and stabbed in the back. He told Police that he was talking to the woman when ?one of the men proceeded to make various allegations about the victim before assaulting him?.

?During the assault the suspect punched the Pembroke man about the face and body and stabbed him in the back while removing an 18 inch necklace,? Police said.

?The 48-year-old victim was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries and later released,? Police said.

Police Media Relations Spokesman Robin Simmons described the suspect as a dark brown skinned male, approximately five feet, five inches tall, of slim build with a close haircut and sharp facial features. He is believed to be in his late teens or early twenties.

Around 11.55 a.m. yesterday, Police received a report of an assault at a Horseshoe Road, Southampton residence. Details about the incident are unclear at the moment; but a 30-year-old Southampton man received injuries to the head, which while serious, are not believed to be life threatening.

Last night the nursing supervisor at KEMH said the victim was out of the OR and was in a stable condition on a general ward.

Police said inquiries into these incidents are underway and they are appealing for any witnesses to these incidents or anyone with any information to contact the Central CID on 295-0011.

Man racks up $2,500 in traffic fines

Breaking the law is a waste of money, a Magistrate told a 20-year-old Warwick man who pleaded guilty to more than $2,000 in traffic offences in Magistrates? Court, yesterday.

Magistrate Edward King fined Aswad Wilson, of Spice Hill, Warwick a total of $2,365, including $1,150 for no third party insurance, $450 for having an unlicensed auxiliary cycle, $215 for speeding at 58 kph and $200 for failure to stop for police on December 9 in Warwick.

?Having no third party insurance is extremely serious,? said Mr. King. Wilson asked for a few days to pay his fines, saying: ?I just started a job yesterday.?

Mr. King only cocked his head and smiled at Wilson ? he had joked earlier in the Plea Court session that the Island?s economy had to be booming because ?everybody just got a job yesterday?.

After a pause, he said: ?A young man like you? How can you afford to take what you earn and put it into the court? This is a month?s rent young man ? but I suppose you are living with your parents so you don?t have to pay rent!?

Two men denied bail in conspiracy case

Two men charged with conspiracy to murder three Police officers and two other men had their application for bail denied in Magistrates? Court yesterday.

Jevon Earnest Gardner, 27, of 28 Crossfield Lane Sandys and Kenneth Durrant, 53, are accused of planning to kill Sergeant Arthur Glasford, P.c. Terry Trott and P.c. Llewellyn Edwards, as well as Sharrieff Wales and Dion Ford. Both face a further charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Director of Public Prosecutions Vinnette Gram-Allen represented the Crown before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner. He upheld the Crown?s submissions and remanded the men into custody until February 4. Representing the two men were defence counsels Richard Hector and Charles Richardson.