Joel Ferreira, the man accused of killing Alberttown mechanic Brian Assanah, was yesterday arraigned on a murder charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
It is alleged that on October 7, at Albert Street, Ferreira, 52, murdered Assanah, 20, of Fourth Street, Alberttown, who was assisting police in apprehending him.
Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick stated that Ferreira is known to police and on the day of the murder, at about 8.10 pm, officers were arresting him. Bostwick noted that when Assanah saw the commotion between the officers and the assailant, he quickly rushed in and assisted, which resulted in him being stabbed several time about his body, including the right side of his neck close to his ears.
Assanah was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead on arrival.
Ferreira was later apprehended by officers.
But Ferreira’s lawyer, Paul Fung-a-Fat, told Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that his client was attacked by two men and this led to the murder. He said Ferreira also sustained injuries about his body and has not yet been provided with medical attention.
Bail was refused and the matter was transferred to Court Five, where
Magistrate Leron Dailey assigned November 15 for reports and fixtures.
Police had said that a report of threatening language was made against Ferreira at the Alberttown Police Station earlier in the day. He was later seen riding past the police station and was challenged by a Rural Corporal on duty at the station, who attempted to arrest him. However, he resisted and rode away.
“He was pursued by the Rural Corporal and a Police Constable who caught up with him at Fourth and Light streets, Alberttown, and a scuffle ensued as he again resisted being arrested.
At this time Brian Assanah who was in the vicinity came up and advised the suspect that he should go with the police, whereupon the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed him to his neck and escaped on the bicycle,” police said.
