Curtis Vasconcellos and Orwin Peters, who are charged with the attempted murder of a Grove businessman, shot during a botched robbery attempt last June, have been committed to stand trial at the High Court.
The decision, handed down yesterday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, came after Vasconcellos gave unsworn testimony in relation to a statement he allegedly made to an officer while in custody at the hospital. The Magistrate ruled that she had found the statement to have been given freely and voluntarily. She then announced that there was enough evidence against the defendants to establish a prima facie case.
Both defendants declined to say anything in relation to the matter and decided to reserve their witnesses until the High Court trial. Until such time, the two have been granted bail in the sum of $400,000.
Vasconcellos, 21, of First Street, Agricola, and Peters, were jointly charged last August with discharging a loaded firearm at Imran Khan with intent to kill, while robbing him of a $200,000 gold chain and a $500,000 gold ring, on June 6, at Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
Previous reports state that Khan was in his snackette at Grove when gunmen rode up on motorcycles and attempted to rob him. A scuffle ensued, and it was during such time that Michael Grant, 18, of Third Street, Agricola, was shot and killed.
Vasconcellos, who denied having knowledge that the other men were about to commit a robbery, was seriously injured while attempting to ride away from the scene. His co-accused, Peters, was subsequently apprehended by police in Bagotstown and was found with ammunition and cannabis in his possession, for which he was also charged.
