An 18-year-old cattle hand was remanded to prison yesterday after he was charged with the December 31st murders of the Bush Lot farmers Premcharran and Harricharran Samaroo, who were fatally shot during a robbery at their mother’s house.
Keeran Romeo Jeenarine, 18, of Lot 439 Bush Lot Village, was yesterday charged at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on December 31st at Lot 446 Bush Lot, Corentyne, he allegedly murdered Premcharran Samaroo, called ‘Tullie,’ and Harricharran Samaroo, called ‘Davo,’ in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
Jeenarine, who was represented by attorney Charlyn Artiga, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore.
Meanwhile, Artiga requested that full disclosure of statements along with video footage of her client at a supermarket in Bush Lot, Corentyne at the time of the fatal robbery be made available at his next court appearance.
On Thursday last, Jeenarine turned himself over to police at the Whim Police Station in the presence of his attorney, after a wanted bulletin was issued for him and another accused, Kelvin Shivgobin, 32, of Belvedere Village, Corentyne.
However, Artiga pointed out yesterday to Magistrate Moore that her client was held beyond the maximum 72 hours detention period without charge. She also voiced her belief that the reason her client was arraigned yesterday was because she was getting ready to take the matter to the High Court to have her client presented.
She argued that if the police are investigating a matter and need more time before filing charges, then they have other recourses. She noted that they could have gone to the High Court to seek an extension to keep her client in custody and conduct a thorough investigation, rather than hurriedly charging him and putting him through the system, as she referenced the CCTV footage.
Sources close to the investigation have claimed that the lad confessed to planning the robbery, which unexpectedly led to the two murders.
However, Artiga yesterday told the court that she is aware that a statement was taken from her client but she is unaware of its content until it is disclosed to her. She also asked for the matter to be dealt with expeditiously.
Magistrate Moore pointed out, that she also has the option to write to the Director of Public Prosecutions and formally request the same.
Jeenarine will return to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on January, 22nd.
The Samaroos were fatally shot after they rushed to their mother’s backyard to investigate the sound of a gunshot. The bandits escaped with less than $80,000 in US and Guyanese currency in total.
