Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton remanded two men yesterday when they appeared before her on joint charges of robbery under arms and the murder of two Brazilian miners.
Ryan Clemenson, 20, and Charles Hackett, 47, of 99 New Grove Housing Scheme were not required to plead to the indictable charges.
It is alleged that on April 11 on Regent Street, Georgetown they shot and killed two Brazilians — Silverino Pequeno Alves Junio, 45, and Francisco Lima, 46. It was also alleged that on the same day being armed with a gun they both robbed Jose Alenor Ovido D’Oliveira of $1.5 million.
Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson told the court that his client Clemenson was picked out in an identification (ID) parade on Sunday. He said that according to his knowledge a surveillance tape was made available to the police and it would clearly show that Clemenson was not involved in any of the alleged activities.
He told the magistrate that there was no point in prolonging the matter and having the two men incarcerated when a simple viewing of the tape could clear up the issue. Thompson emphasized that it all boiled down to whether or not the men seen on the tape are the two accused.
Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels made no comments on the alleged tape but told the court that the two men were identified by D’Oliveira in the ID parade. She further requested a date for report to seek advice on how to proceed with the matter.
Alves Junio and Lima were shot dead around 1.10 pm at a Regent Street guesthouse where they normally stayed.
According to police investigations, the Brazilians had gone to the Pure Diamonds Establishment on East Street, Georgetown to do business and D’Oliveira collected $1.5 million there.
They returned to the guesthouse and were in the bar of the establishment when one of the bandits entered and ordered an aerated drink. Reports said that while the man was being attended to, he pulled out a firearm and attacked D’Oliveira, hitting him in the head with the firearm while taking away the bag with the money.
Junio reportedly went to D’Oliveira’s assistance and was shot in his head. Reports said that Lima ran out of the building to escape but was shot in the abdomen by the other bandit who was outside.
The men escaped on a motorcycle that was parked outside while the Brazilians were taken to the hospital where Junio was pronounced dead on arrival and Lima died while receiving medical treatment. D’Oliveira was treated and sent away.
Clemenson and Hackett will return to Court Five on May 14.
