and sister with a machete during a dispute over missing laundry.

Vernon Richard Martin appeared before Senior Magistrate the Wor. William Francis, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful wounding.

He is scheduled to appear this afternoon for sentencing.

His mother, Alreta Melvina Martin, and sister, Cheryl Martin, were in the court yesterday.

Martin, in custody since Sunday, lives in an apartment below his mother's apartment.

The incident occurred April 30 at his mother's residence.

"Both (complainants) have indicated they are in fear for their lives in regards to what happened that evening,'' said police prosecutor Sgt. Donald Grant.

Martin struck his sister across the arm with a rake handle, breaking the handle, and later hit her stomach, chest and side with a machete.

His mother sustained a machete cut during the fight as well, said Sgt. Grant.

The woundings occurred after Martin was unable to find his laundry at his mother's residence, where the three share laundry facilities.

The relationship between Martin, his mother and his sister has been "an ongoing difficult one,'' said defence lawyer Mr. Larry Scott.