Security guard Kelvin Chisholm will now face trial at the High Court for the murder of Nigel Lawson, a labourer he had confronted after accusing him of theft.
The decision was made yesterday by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, who ruled at the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry that a prima facie case had been made out against Chisholm.
In brief remarks, the magistrate noted that after examining the submissions from both the prosecution and defence, it was found that sufficient evidence had been presented by the state and as such Chisholm would be committed to stand trial at the next practical sitting of the High Court.
A visibly-distressed Chisholm was then told that he would be further remanded to prison as he awaits his trial date.
The charge against Chisholm of Lot 5 Water Street, Kingston, is that on May 1, 2014, he murdered Lawson, 34, formerly of Camp Street.
He was not required to plead to the capital charge at his arraignment on May 6 last before Chief Magis-trate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One.
The accused was 53 years old at the time of the murder, which the police said stemmed from a confrontation with the labourer.
It is the police’s case that Chisholm, who was employed as a security guard at a private residence in South Cummingsburg, confronted Lawson on Quamina Street about a missing cellphone and an iPod.
A statement issued by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had stated that the security guard was on duty when he decided to make rounds around the compound, leaving his iPod and cellphone on a chair in front of the building. On his return to the front, the statement said, the guard saw Lawson leaving the compound, while his possessions were noticeably missing.
An argument ensued between the two men and quickly developed into a physical altercation, during which Lawson was stabbed. The missing items were retrieved from Lawson by the security guard, the GPF said.
Lawson was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
