Mark Griffith, the shot man suspected to have been a part of the attempted armed robbery along the Liliendaal Railway Embankment road, was yesterday positively identified as an accomplice in the crime.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed to Stabroek News that Griffith was positively identified by a witness during an identification parade as the accomplice of ex-prison officer Trydon Munroe, who was fatally shot during the attempted hold up.
Munroe, 24, of New Amsterdam, Berbice, died after he was shot several times to his chest by a security guard escorting the intended victim, the supervisor of an interior flight service who was couriering parcels of cash and gold.
Griffith is believed to have been wounded as well. Hours after the shooting, he had turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital with gunshot injuries. He has since been discharged and is presently in police custody.
The attack had occurred around 9.45 am on Tuesday while the supervisor and her armed security escort were heading back to Georgetown in a car after collecting several parcels from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, at Ogle.
The police had said that while the two were in the vicinity of the Giftland Mall Access Road on the Railway Embankment, a dark coloured car blocked their path and two bandits, who were brandishing firearms, exited the vehicle.
The police added that the security escort drew his firearm and discharged several rounds that struck Munroe, who fell on the road. “The security [escort] then exited the vehicle and discharged his firearm at the other armed accomplice, suspected to be Griffith, who managed to escape on foot,” it added. The vehicle that transported the bandits to the scene sped away during the shooting.
The police, who responded promptly after a report was made, recovered a .32 pistol with three live matching rounds at the scene. Stabroek News was told that during their journey back to Georgetown, the supervisor and the security escort suspected they were being trailed by a black car, whose occupants were acting suspiciously.
Reports are that while they were in the vicinity of the Giftland Mall Access Road, they were forced to stop due to the traffic congestion.
It was at this point that they were confronted by the bandits. The men were reportedly unaware that their intended victim was accompanied by the security escort.
Munroe attempted to open fire at the security escort but his gun jammed and he was shot dead instead. The escort then turned to Munroe’s accomplice and opened fire. However, he managed to escape. Griffith, 25, a resident of Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje Berbice, was recently sentenced in his absence to two years in jail on an armed robbery charge. He was charged in October last year with an armed robbery committed on a Bristol Street, Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice resident. He had appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court. Bail was initially denied but it was later granted and Griffith was released in February.
Stabroek News was told that following the completion of the trial in May, Griffith, who never returned to court after being released, was found guilty of the charge and he was sentenced. An arrest warrant would likely have been issued for him.
