Two men were yesterday remanded to prison on a charge of dog-slaughter, while a third was placed on $60,000 bail for malicious damage to property.
The charge against Akbar Ali and Steven Parsram is that on July 15, at Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara, they unlawfully and maliciously killed a dog, ordinarily kept for domestic purposes, belonging to Pradeep Lall.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were read to them at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate Judy Latchman.
Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos appeared for the men and stated that the cane harvester/carpenter and the regional security checker have both been cooperating with the police.
De Santos added that he was informed that the dog in question was regarded by the neighbourhood as a nuisance, causing damage to people’s property.
He observed that “when the dog does damage, it has no owner, and now that it’s dead it has an owner.” Counsel also argued that there were about ten different persons involved in the matter, and whom the police had apprehended but only three were charged.
Though the prosecution had no objections to bail, after hearing a veterinarian’s report on the dog’s condition, the Magistrate remanded the two Mon Repos residents to prison.
The case was adjourned until July 26, for commencement of the Preliminary Inquiry. Meanwhile, it is alleged that on the same day of the dog-slaughter, Ryan Payne broke a side of a wooden fence, valued at $35,000, and which was the private property of Lall.
The 18-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him, and De Santos, again standing as representative, made an application for bail.
He noted that as with his two other clients, Payne had been cooperative and was voluntarily making visits to the BV Police Station.
Bail was granted the defendant in the sum of $60,000 and the matter adjourned until August 30.
