Three more persons were yesterday charged over their alleged involvement in the murder of British teen Dominic Bernard.
Krystal Thomas, called “Kathy,” 20, of 19 Public Road, Kildonan, Jahmeil Sinclair, called “Fross,” or “Bacchus,” 19, of Kildonan Village and Sinfine Henry, called “Coreen,” 39, of Nurney Village, were all charged with murder, although one of their attorneys argued that the charge was improper.
The charge was instituted one day after Hing, the deceased’s god brother, and Staymon George were each charged with the murder.
The charge stated that Thomas, Sinclair and Henry, between January 4th and January 6th, at Kildonan, Corentyne, knowing that Aaron Hing had committed the offence of murder, did receive, comfort, relieve and maintain, harbour and assist Hing.
The trio was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
Attorney Nigel Hughes, who is representing Hing and George, also appeared yesterday for Thomas, whom he said is six months pregnant with Hing’s child.
The attorney had begun making an application for bail on her behalf and requested an expedited trial. However, after clarification that the charge laid before the court was in fact one of murder, he commented that the prosecution had overreached their jurisdiction as the particulars of the matter do not support the offence of murder.
Hughes argued that, given the particulars stated, the charge should have been one of accessory after the fact.
He went on to request that there be a disclosure of statements indicating that any one of the accused was involved in the offence of murder. He stated that the charge is an abuse of power and an abuse of process and in excess of the jurisdiction of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to execute a charge where the particulars do not indicate that a principal offence has been committed.
Lawyer Ramesh Rajkumar appeared on behalf of Henry, a vendor at the Port Mourant market, and Sinclair, whom he said is a stock farmer.
Rajkumar told the court his intention of joining with Hughes as it relates to making an application for the disclosure of statements.
He explained that while at Whim, the defendants were informed that they would be charged with obstruction of justice and that the charges would be laid at the Whim Magistrate’s Court. However, they were brought to a city court yesterday and surprised with a murder charge, he added.
Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, addressing the claim of there being an abuse of process, said that the issue is not one that the court should deal with at this stage.
He further noted that the fact that the accused were charged with an offence of murder means that bail cannot be granted by the court.
Thomas, Sinclair and Henry were all remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The three, along with Hing and George will make their next court appearance on January 21st, at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.
Bernard, 18, came to Guyana last October to stay with his god brother, Hing. His family has said he travelled here to pursue his dream of studying film-making. However, following his arrival, there was no word from him.
A decomposing body, suspected to be his, was discovered last Friday in the backlands of Nurney, which is located next to Kildonan. DNA testing is still to be done to confirm that the body is that of Bernard.
Hing and George were arrested last Friday and Saturday, respectively, after wanted bulletins were issued by authorities.
The men, while in police custody, allegedly admitted to murdering Bernard, bludgeoning him to death and burying his body in a shallow grave just a few hours after his arrival in the country.
The three others were subsequently arrested. It is alleged that one of the women tried to help George flee after the wanted bulletin was issued, while one of the others allegedly helped to dig the grave where the body was found and one other.
