8 NEWS
tuesday, december 29, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com
Five years later: Water vendor charged for miner’s murder A
fter five years of evading capture, a water vendor accused of murdering gold miner Rawle Peters was on Monday arraigned for the murder. Seon Edwards, 26, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on September 20, 2010 he murdered Peters at Cuyuni
Murder accused Seon Edwards
Landing, Essequibo River. Edwards, also known as ‘Rasta Man’, was arrested on Tuesday last in the vicinity of Regent and Hincks Streets, Georgetown. Police have since reported that the accused, following his arrest, confessed to killing Peters during an argument after the deceased accused him of stealing a sum of money. Peters had reportedly accused Edwards
of stealing $300,000. During the argument, the accused reportedly chopped the deceased in his abdomen with a chopper (a type of cutlass) after the deceased allegedly hit him with a piece of wood. The accused was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for January 15, 2016.
Break and enter accused to spend New Year in prison
T
wo residents of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) were on Monday remanded to prison when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for breaking and entering and larceny. Denzil Mathias, also known as Benzu, 24, a mason of Lot 1270 Block X, Diamond New Scheme, and Mark Nurse, 18, of Lot 6 Block X Diamond New Scheme, both entered not-guilty pleas. The charge stated that on December 23 at Lot 1248 Block X Diamond New Scheme, they broke
and entered the dwelling house of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Asheila Persaud and stole two laptop computers valued $215,000, a quantity of gold worth $410,000, clothing valued $60,000 and a Play Station and games valued $60,000 among other articles, valued in total $1,200,000. Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick objected to bail, stating that some of the articles were recovered and Nurse admitted to the offence. He also cited the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. The case will continue on January 18 at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
Denzil Mathias and Mark Nurse
Porter jailed for cocaine possession A porter was on Monday jailed for three years when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with trafficking in narcotics. Ramesh Persaud,
34, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on December 26 at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, he had in his possession 4.5 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick told the court that
police ranks on patrol at saw the defendant acting in a suspicious manner, approached him and conducted a search. During the search, a small zip-lock bag was found in his pants pocket and it contained a substance sus-
pected to be cocaine. Persaud was told of the allegation and taken into custody. In court the defendant chose to remain silent after pleading his guilty. The Magistrate sentenced him to three years and fined him $30,000.
Albouystown murder suspect likely for court today
M
ark Greaves, 54, of Curtis Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, is expected to be charged for the murder of “Fluffie” who was stabbed to death in Albouystown on Christmas Day. He is expected to appear at the Georgetown
Magistrates’ Court today. It was reported that on Friday last at about 15:00h, two men were involved in a heated argument when one of them whipped out a knife and dealt the other several blows to the neck and chest. The victim who is yet to
be identified reportedly fell while Greaves attempted to escape but was detained by public spirited citizens. The injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he was pronounced dead. The suspect was handed
over to the police who have since recovered the blood stained knife suspected to be the murder weapon. This is one of at least five murders committed over the weekend, making it the bloodiest Christmas in recent times.
No arrest yet for Harbour Bridge murder
H
ours after a passenger in a Route 32 minibus was gunned down by another passenger, the police had positively identified the assailant but have not yet made an arrest. Speaking to Guyana Times Monday evening, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum explained that police ranks were combing the area in which the man resides with the hope of ar-
resting him. He noted that the police are extremely careful since it is believed the suspect is still armed and dangerous. However, he noted that the victim is still to be identified. The suspect was identified following a review of the CCTV footage of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB). On the day in question, the suspect whipped
out a gun and discharged two rounds in the minibus around 18:00h on December 26. The shooting resulted in the death of the unidentified man while another was seriously injured. The injured man was identified as Rudolph Williams, 28, an off duty police constable. The shooting stemmed from the now dead man refusing to close a window on the request of the assailant
who claimed raindrops were catching him. The resulting argument continued for several minutes which prompted the driver of the minibus to stop and ordered them off. It was at this point the suspect whipped out the gun and discharged two rounds, hitting the now dead man and the police rank. He then calmly fled the scene.
Eyew tness Chicken Little W
…on corruption?
e all remember Chicken Little, don't we? He ran around hysterically screaming “The Sky is falling! The Sky is falling!” When, of course, no such thing was happening. Not surprisingly, folks soon paid him no heed. He died a pretty lonely, old hen! In Guyana, we’ve had the MuckrakerKN screaming, “Corruption Unearthed!! Corruption Unearthed!! Hang ‘em high! Hang ‘em high!” since the elections were over. Looks like Glenn Lall’s gonna eventually die a very lonely and bitter old geezer! Cause Prezzie just clarified that “if people were assumed to be guilty, simply because of a newspaper article…the country will be in chaos”. Now, neither Prezzie nor this newspaper could say, there was absolutely NO corruption during the PPP’s 23 years in office. Even former Presidents Jagdeo and Ramotar had accepted there had to’ve been corrupt acts committed. Stands to reason, doesn't it? There are only human beings on Earth – very few folks walk around with halos floating over their heads and strumming harps. So to be human is to err and to err when human greed kicks in, makes corruption a foregone conclusion in Government. But both former Presidents had said, and the present one has reiterated, that before you string up people you suspect of being corrupt on the nearest mango tree, the Government has to allow “due process” to take its course. “Due process” means that justice must not only be done or seen to be done – it must be done by following the procedures outlined in the law. No frontier justice here! And ordinary folks should appreciate that, no? Imagine if your neighbour could just hack away at you with his cutlass just because his fowl-cock is missing and he smelt curried chicken wafting from your yard! The fella has to prove in a court of law that it was HIS chicken simmering in your carahi! So this Eyewitness believes IF corrupt acts are proven, then the law must be allowed to take its course and those found guilty must be punished accordingly. Only WHEN this is done will the message go out that the State isN’t there to be looted by incumbents. It’s quite possible because the PPP under Jagan didn't even try to prosecute anyone for wrongdoings during the PNC’s 28 years, that message got lost in the shuffle. The danger of the Muckraker screaming every day for peoples’ heads to roll is citizens might just become cynical of the possibility that justice will ever be done – in addition to seeing Lall for the envy-racked slimeball he is. Prezzie is to be complimented for refusing to rise to the provocations of the Muckraker. The wheel of the law might grind slow…but it grinds fine.
…on Styrofoam?
Just as there are Republicans in the US – most of them followers of Donald Trump – who deny the reality of global warming, there are a substantial bloc of Guyanese who don't think Styrofoam is such a big problem! They never thought the powers that be would muster up the testicular fortitude to institute such draconian penalties if folks insist on using the quick and dirty for their food. Well, this Eyewitness says in this case – let the law take its course come Jan 1st. Apart from Styrofoam possibly having a half-life greater than the earth itself, the challenge for our dear mudland is the blocking of canals and drains when all those food containers refuse to go under – like unsinkable Molly Browns – at culverts. So we end up with our villages and towns flooding even if we spit in unison. But we have to ensure there are enough of the biodegradable substitutes around. And we stop dumping our food containers like the slobs most of us are.
…on financial irresponsibility
You’d accept your Eyewitness’ been observing his “kinder, gentler” holiday promise, wouldn't you? But what the heck can he say about the AG’s claim it was the PPP that dragged its feet on anti-terrorism legislation! Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com