Four months after hotelier Joseph Jagdeo was found dead in one of his hotel rooms, teenager Brian Leitch was on Thursday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the man’s murder.
Leitch, 19, also known as ‘Big Foot’, was accused of murdering the 59-year-old businessman between November 13 and 14, 2013 in the dead man’s South Central Hotel.
In Leitch’s first appearance on December 2, 2013, Prosecutor Bharat Mangru had stated that Jagdeo had discovered his cell phone missing and had approached Leitch about it. The following day, the hotel’s caretaker went to clean Jagdeo’s room and discovered it locked. Later, when access was gained, Jagdeo’s bound body was found underneath the bed in the room.
A post-mortem examination conducted by government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on November 15, 2013 revealed that Jagdeo had died from asphyxia due to manual strangulation.
Leitch turned himself over to the police on November 30 after a wanted bulletin was posted for him.
In Thursday’s proceedings, after nearly a month of the preliminary inquiry, a prima facie case of murder was established against the young labourer. Following testimony by 18 witnesses for the prosecution, the unrepresented Leitch was given an opportunity to lead his own defence: give a sworn or unsworn testimony, or remain silent. Following the advice of Attorney George Thomas, who was present during the proceedings, Leitch elected to remain silent.
Leitch, formerly of Diamond, East Bank Demerara was returned to the Camp Street prison to await his first appearance in the High Court.
