Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan is today expected to rule on whether a prima facie case has been made out against three of the men charged with the murder of Bourda Market vendor Troy Ramalho.
The three accused are Roy Sanford, of ‘A’ Field, Sophia, Akeem Morris, of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, and George Paton, of Eccles Park, East Bank Demerara.
It is alleged that the trio, on August 15th, 2018, at Robb Street, Bourda, in the course or furtherance of a robbery, they murdered Ramalho. (A fourth man, Nya John, is also separately charged with the crime and a preliminary inquiry into charge is ongoing in another court.)
On April 15th, no case submissions were made by attorneys Sanjeev Datadin and Dexter Todd on behalf of Morris and Sanford, while an unrepresented Paton made submissions on his behalf.
When the proceedings resumed yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, police prosecutor Neville Jeffers, in response to the no case submissions made, urged the court to call upon the accused to lead their defence to the charge. The prosecutor noted that the evidence led through the various witnesses, including the two main witnesses, were not disputed.
The Chief Magistrate later adjourned the matter until today for a ruling on whether the three men would have to lead a defence.
Ramalho, 45, was shot once to the chest while reportedly resisting three men who attempted to rob him of his jewellery. A witness told police that the gunman discharged a round at Ramalho, who fell instantly. His accomplices then relieved the shot man of his jewelry and quickly fled the scene. Ramalho was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
