A special prosecutor has been appointed to lead the state’s case in the Preliminary Inquiry into the murder charge against Subryanville hotelier Erwin Bacchus, following complaints against the police by the family of the deceased, Jason De Florimonte.
Attorney Dexter Todd was appointed as the special prosecutor by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The inquiry was slated to begin yesterday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in Georgetown.
However, at the hearing, the court was informed of Todd’s appointment as a special prosecutor for the case.
Todd subsequently told the court that he would need time to review the case file so the inquiry can proceed smoothly. The matter was then adjourned until October 10th, when the inquiry is expected to begin.
Todd told reporters after the hearing that he was appointed as the prosecutor after the relatives of the deceased made complaints to the Crime Chief of the Guyana Police Force and to the Police Complaints Authority. He did not go into the details.
The charge against Bacchus states that he murdered De Florimonte on August 4th, 2018 at Subryanville.
Bacchus was previously charged with manslaughter but the charge against him was withdrawn and the murder charge was instituted.
De Florimonte was shot four times after an early morning confrontation with Bacchus, who is the owner of the Tourist Villa hotel, located at Lot 95 Fifth Avenue Subryanville, Kitty, Georgetown, obliquely opposite the home of the deceased.
