Keron Herbert, the ex-soldier fingered in the killing of the gold dealers at Bartica was yesterday remanded when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on two charges of murder.
The allegation is that between September 4 and 5 at Bartica 24-year-old
Herbert murdered Ramdeo Deonarine and Jainarine Raghubir.
The accused was not required to enter a plea to the capital offence of murder when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey in his address to the court said that the bodies of the men were discovered on the kitchen floor of a Second Avenue Bartica house between September 4 and 5. He noted that one person, Rawle Newton has already been charged with the murders of the gold dealers.
According to Harvey, based on intelligence received by the police, a wanted bulletin was issued for Herbert and he was subsequently arrested and charged.
The defendant who appeared to be unwell clutched his lower abdomen and walked with a limp at a snail’s pace as he entered and exited the courtroom via the chute.
Herbert, who was slouching in the docks, appeared to be in pain while the magistrate explained to him that he was placed before her on a charge of murder and would not be required to enter a plea to the indictable offence.
The accused appeared to be unable to stand upright as required by the court and the magistrate asked him if he was unwell. After he responded in the affirmative, the acting chief magistrate ordered the prosecutor to ensure that the accused is given the necessary medical attention.
The unrepresented Herbert was later remanded to prison. His matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for October 27.
Deonarine and Raghubir were both bound and had deep wounds inflicted to their throats. It was reported that approximately $1.2 million in cash as well as 100 ounces of raw gold and two laptops were stolen from the house.
Rawle Newton was charged last week with the murders while Michael Newton, policeman Marlon Letlow, Linden Scotland and Kim Bumbury are accused of aiding and abetting in the crime. Rawle Newton allegedly committed the murders sometime between September 4 and September 5 at Bartica, while Michael Newton, Letlow, Scotland and Bumbury are alleged to have aided him sometime between September 5 and 16 at Georgetown.
Letlow, a policeman attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), who was stationed at Bartica, is alleged to have tried to blackmail Rawle Newton, after receiving stolen goods belonging to the dead men. Police seized four motor cars, an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) and a quantity of home appliances suspected to be proceeds from the robbery, when they made the arrests.
Deonarine and Raghubir were last seen around midnight on September 4 when they left a party.
