Five young men appeared before a city court yesterday where altogether, they were charged with crimes of murder, attempted murder, and robbery under arms, including the slaying of a Good Hope rice farming couple and the recent Tower Suites robbery.
The accused: Curtis Vasconcellos, 23, of Albouystown; Jason Howard, 21, of Lot 250 East La Penitence; Sanjay George; Shamudeen Mohamed called ‘Milo’ and Joel Blair, were all arraigned before Magistrate Faith McGusty and all matters have been adjourned to January 12, when they will be called before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Howard, along with George, Mohamed, and Blair, were arraigned for the murder of Good Hope rice farmers Mohamed and Jamilla Munir, who burnt to death after their house was set ablaze during a robbery attempt. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on April 17, at Good Hope, they murdered Mohamed Munir and Bibi Munir in the course or furtherance of a robbery, in relation to the dwelling house of the Munirs.
Howard was further arraigned on a charge of attempted murder and four counts of armed robbery.
It was stated that on October 28, at Water Street, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Quacy Joseph with intent to murder him.
It was also alleged that Howard, on October 12, at Church Street, being in company with others and armed with a gun, robbed Bibi Jabar of $6,000 cash.
It was further claimed that on October 1, at North Road, Howard, while being in company with another, and armed with a gun, robbed Roopnarine Budhu of $800,000 cash.
On November 18, Howard is accused of robbing Sheik Sadick of $35,000 at 248 Oronoque Street, while being in company with others and armed with a gun.
Also, on November 6, at Plaisance, it is alleged that he, while being in company with another and armed with a gun, robbed Bibi Bacchus of $100,000.
Howard, along with Vasconcellos, were then read joint charges of robbery under arms and attempted murder in relation to the Tower Suites heist, where the hotel’s accountant was relieved of $2.9 million.
It was alleged that on December 14, at Main Street, while armed with a gun, they robbed Baldeo Seegobin of $2,900,000 along with a cheque book, a hard drive, a haversack, a bottle of perfume, a calculator, one comb and $9,000 cash, total value being $2,969,700.
On that same day at Main Street, it is alleged that they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Blamich Persaud with intent to murder him.
Attorney Dexter Todd, who represented Vasconcellos, made an appeal to the court, claiming that Vasconcellos was provided “very little protection under the law” and had been beaten by law enforcement officers while in custody.
Furthermore, he claimed that the accused was shuffled between police stations in an attempt to keep him from seeing his family and possibly in an attempt to hide the marks of violence. After some prompting from the prosecution and magistrate, a request was made by Todd for a medical examination to be conducted on his client.
In August 2015, Vasconcellos and Orwin Peters were jointly charged with the attempted murder and robbery of businessman Neezam Khan.
According to the charge, the men had discharged a loaded firearm at 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.
In September, they were committed to stand trial after Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan ruled that there was enough evidence to establish a prima facie case.
Munirs
Reports are that Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife, Jamilla Munir, 70, who were popular rice farmers, were secured in their bedroom in the heavily grilled house.
Residents who were at the scene told Stabroek News that the bandits scaled the veranda and cut the grill before smashing their way in through a glass door. After they were unable to gain entry to the Munirs’ bedroom, the bandits apparently poured gasoline and lit a fire in front of the couple’s bedroom.
Neighbours said they were alerted by loud screams from the couple and the sound of gas bottles exploding.
A relative told Stabroek News that before the building was engulfed in flames, he heard Munir shouting for him and his family.
Some residents also said the man had phoned them and told them that bandits had invaded his property. He reportedly told someone to “save the two tractors” and residents drove them out of the yard. His Toyota Surf that was parked under the house was destroyed.
A neighbour who lives obliquely opposite, said he saw what he thought was a light but was shocked when it “blazed up within minutes.”
Members of another family two doors away said they heard Munir calling for them and saying: “Bandits in house… come quick!” They responded, “Ok Uncle Munir, we coming…”
Before they could get there they heard him shouting again, “They light fire in the place.”
They also heard Jamilla shouting, “Call the police…”
But they did not hear her for too long and assumed that she had probably collapsed before her husband, from the intense heat.
