Regan Rodrigues, the man charged with murdering political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, will be forced to sit in prison for at least another month before the start of the preliminary inquiry into the charge against him as the police file is still to be completed.
Rodrigues, also known as ‘Grey Boy,’ appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday where he learnt the proceedings would be adjourned until October 12th, pending the completion of the file.
Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that the police would be unable to proceed with the inquiry as there were still statements outstanding from a telephone company. At the previous hearing, Jeffers had also reported that the file was incomplete and an adjournment was granted until yesterday’s date to allow for the police to get the file in order.
When Rodrigues learnt the matter had once again been put off, the accused, visibly upset, voiced his anger to the court. “They trying to make someone a scapegoat! First they saying is the gun, now is something about telephone statements,” he declared.
Magistrate McLennan, in an attempt to pacify the defendant, calmly told him that the evidence would reveal what it needed to reveal and he needed to let the law take its course.
Rodrigues, 37, of Riverview, Ruimveldt, was on August 7th charged with murdering Crum-Ewing at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. The charge was read to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
Rodrigues, who was unrepresented, was not required to plead to the charge as it was made indictable.
Prior to this, Rodrigues was charged with gun and ammunition possession and with escaping lawful custody.
It is claimed that ballistics tests revealed that the .32 calibre gun found at the defendant’s Riverview residence was linked to Crum-Ewing’s murder scene.
Crum-Ewing, 40 at the time of his death, was shot execution style on the night of March 10th, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. It was reported that the political activist, who was shot five times, including three times to the head, had been urging residents to vote at the May 11th elections.
