A young man was remanded to prison yesterday after being charged with shooting at a minibus driver after attempting to leave the bus without paying.
It is alleged that on April 13, at Georgetown, Tundru Murray, 18, of 1689 National Avenue, South Ruimveldt Park discharged a loaded firearm at Desmond Marcus with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry refused Murray bail when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, after she was told that police only arrested him last week, when he was held at Imbaimadai
Prosecutor Vernette Pindar told the court that around 12:30 am on the day of the shooting. Marcus was driving a minibus and Murray was among the passengers.
Pindar said two persons requested to be put off and Murray had promised to pay for them. However, she said, when Murray reached his destination, he refused to pay the full fare for the other two passengers.
After Marcus asked for the remainder of the fare, Murray is alleged to have said “why you don’t rest yourself” and an argument resulted, during which he pulled out his firearm and discharged a few rounds at the complainant.
The prosecutor said Murray was arrested on June 14 at Imbaimadai.
As a result, Pindar objected to bail on the ground that the defendant poses a flight risk, having been found only now in another area after the incident occurred since April.
Adrian Thompson, counsel for Murray, in his application for bail, told the court that his client had recently finished high school and is now employed as a dredge assistant in the interior.
Thompson said his client had been detained and an ID parade was done after his arrest but a charge had not been levelled against him at the time. Clearly, counsel said, this is because there was no evidence against his client.
After hearing the case, the magistrate pronounced that the accused was remanded to prison until June 27, when the case will be called for report.
