The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder charge against Lawrence Rowe over the killing of Cuban national, Joel Perez Laffita began yesterday with the testimony of a police officer in the case.
Police Constable Rawle King, began his testimony which focused on the apprehension of the accused. He testified before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown court. King was led in his testimony with a line of questions from prosecutor Shevon Jupiter, after which he was cross-examined by defence attorney Adrian Thompson.
During the court proceedings, a relative of Rowe, created an uproar and had to be silenced by officers in the court. She subsequently left the courtroom.
The PI was adjourned to September 8, when the King and other witnesses will be called to testify.
It is alleged that, Rowe, 37, of Lot 69 Parker Street, Providence, murdered Perez-Laffita during the course of a robbery on March 8, at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Rowe, a former bar attendant, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
Rowe was subsequently remanded to prison.
Perez-Laffita 47, was discovered dead during the wee hours of March 8 on the Providence Public Road, and it was suspected that he was shot during a robbery attempt. He had been last seen alive around 8.30pm on March 7th, when he disembarked a ship which had arrived from Trinidad and Tobago.
Providence residents had recalled seeing a person, dressed in a hoodie, riding up to Perez-Laffita. Moments after they heard the sound of a loud explosion, suspected to be a gunshot. The suspect then rode away. Perez-Laffita had in his possession a small quantity of cash, which was found intact.
