Ryan Clemenson was yesterday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the April 2008 murder of two Brazilian miners during a robbery, while his co-accused, Lloyd Sadloo and Charles Hackett, were discharged.
Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton handed down the decisions at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, concluding the preliminary inquiry into the charges against the men.
The Magistrate discharged the case against the duo then told the court that enough evidence had been provided for the case against Clemenson. The court was very quiet as the men’s relatives and observers awaited the verdict.
While the freed men expressed their gratitude to the court, Clemenson bowed his head as he waited to be escorted out of the courtroom. Sadloo and Hackett, who had been imprisoned for over three years on the charges, were represented by attorney Peter Hugh.
Clemenson, 20, Sadloo, 27, of Hill Street, Albouystown and Charles Hackett, 47, of 99 New Grove Housing Scheme were charged jointly. It was alleged that on April 11, at the Regent Street Guest House, they shot and killed 45-year-old Silverino Pequeno Alves Junio and 46-year-old Francisco Lima.
It had also been alleged that on the same day, being armed with a gun they robbed Jose Alenor Ovido D’Oliveira of $1.5 million.
Alves Junio and Lima were shot dead around 1.10 pm. According to police, the Brazilians had gone to a diamond establishment to do business and D’Oliveira collected the money from there.
The men returned to the guest house and had been in the bar when a gunman entered and, under the guise of being a patron, ordered a drink. While he was being attended to, the gunman allegedly pulled out a firearm and attacked D’Oliveira, hitting him in the head while taking away the bag with the money.
Alves Junio reportedly tried to render assistance when he was shot in the head. It had also been reported that Lima ran out of the building to escape but another gunman waiting outside shot him in the abdomen.
The gunmen escaped on a motorcycle that was parked outside the establishment. Alves Junio was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital while Lima died while being treated. D’Oliveira was treated and discharged.
