The accused in the murder of Godfrey Phillips, the shop owner who was stabbed to death last Sunday at Sophia, was remanded to prison on Thursday after he was charged with the crime.
Colin Blair, a resident of Pike Street, Sophia, was arraigned at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him by Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool.
He is accused of murdering Phillips on January 20th at ‘D’ Field, Sophia.
Blair was not required to plead to the indictable charge and the matter was adjourned until February 12th.
Phillips was fatally stabbed around 11.45 pm in front of his Lot 3028 ‘D’ Field Sophia residence.
Phillips, also known as ‘Bruce,’ allegedly intervened in an argument between Blair and his wife and he was stabbed once in his abdomen as a result. He was rushed in an unconscious state to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Hours after the incident, Blair was arrested after he surrendered to the police at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, Eve Leary, in company of his attorney.
Stabroek News was previously told that Phillips owned and operated a shop in front of his premises. Blair and his wife were customers of the shop.
In a statement, the police said Phillips was closing his business when Blair and his wife got involved in an argument. As a result, Phillips intervened and was stabbed. “….He [Blair] became enraged, whipped out a knife and allegedly stabbed Phillips in the abdomen,” the police added.
Phillips’ daughter, Felesiah Charles, had related to this newspaper that while the arguing couple do not live together, Blair would sleep at his the woman’s place from time to time. She said they were known for having frequent arguments.
“…The two people, the man and the woman [Blair and his wife were] arguing and me stepfather [Phillips] lock the shop and going upstairs and after them start arguing, he [Phillips] come out and tell them ‘don’t argue in front heh, y’all could go over by y’all and argue.’ And he [Blair] turn and he was like, ‘Bruce, you ain’t more than me! You ain’t more than me bai!’ And he pull out the knife—’cause he been want kill the woman but after he [Phillips] come and corrupt them… he [Blair] pull out the knife and push it inside he [Phillips] belly. He pull it out, push it back in he waist, pick up he bicycle and ride away,” Charles explained.
