A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier who allegedly hit another rank who was playing music over the head with a piece of iron was yesterday remanded to prison on a murder charge by Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Lerone Garcia, 26, who resides at 669 East Ruimveldt was not required to plead to murder when he appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on October 20 at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, he murdered 53-year-old Gordon Sayers. It was reported that Sayers was among a group of soldiers heading to Tacama, an army base on the Berbice River, when the men’s vehicle broke down and they were forced to stay at Camp Stephenson, Timehri.
During that time Sayers was hit with a piece of iron which resulted in his death. A post-mortem report stated that Sayers died as a result of cerebral haemorrhage due to blunt trauma.
Attorney-at-law Ronald Burch-Smith who represented Garcia asked the court for an early date to commence the preliminary inquiry (PI).
Police prosecutor Lloyd Thomas told the court that the deceased and other ranks were travelling in a motor lorry when they encountered mechanical problems. He stated that they then stopped at Camp Stephenson.
The deceased, he said, went into the barrack room and started to play music when the accused allegedly picked up a piece of iron and dealt him a lash. He was discovered lying on the floor.
Garcia cried as the charge was read to him in the dock.
The case will continue on November 19.