The second retrial of Cyon ‘Picture Boy’ Collier, who is accused of murdering two Victoria brothers in 2006, began before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry as the new criminal assizes commenced yesterday at the High Court.
Collier is accused of murdering Ray Walcott called ‘Sugar’ and his younger brother Carl Andrews called ‘Alo’ at Victoria, East Coast Demerara on September 23, 2006.
The two men were standing at the corner of a road watching a game of dominoes, when it is alleged the accused, dressed in black clothing and with a gun slung across his back, rode up on a motorcycle. Collier then allegedly began talking with the men after which he started shooting, and Walcott and Andrews were fatally shot.
Two witnesses were called to testify yesterday including a witness to the shooting, Sherwin Maxwell, and father of the slain men, Godfrey Andrews.
Maxwell, in his evidence-in-chief, attested to having seen Collier arrive on a motorcycle less than 30 minutes before the shooting occurred. He explained that prior to the actual incident, he was in the company of several other men who were engaged in a game of dominoes when they observed someone dismounting a motorcycle and entering a nearby yard. Maxwell noted that he was able to identify the man on the bike as Collier.
“While we were playing domino, we heard something sounding like a motorbike coming from the road front towards the street. At first we thought was a police bike and everyone stop playing domino for a second but it was not a police bike or anybody for us to be scared of. Everyone stopped to see who it was and I see Cyon Collier,” Maxwell testified.
He noted that Collier proceeded to the yard where he stayed for a short while before coming out to ask for a cigarette. Not more than 30 minutes had elapsed, Maxwell said, before they heard gunshots causing them to run for cover.
The witness further related that after the gunfire ceased, he enquired about what transpired and was told that the two brother were fatally shot.
When questioned on whether he had noticed a weapon on any of the persons he was playing dominoes with prior to the shooting, he responded in the negative.
Under cross-examination by defence attorney Lyndon Amsterdam, Maxwell accepted the suggestion that he does not know who the shooter was.
Meanwhile, Andrews testified about receiving a phone call notifying him of the incident which caused him to journey to the Victoria front road where he discovered the lifeless bodies of his sons.
The case is expected to continue today and is being presented by Prosecutors Narissa Leander and Tuanna Hardy.
