Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday overruled no-case submissions for three of the men charged with the murder of Bourda Market vendor Troy Ramalho and said there was sufficient evidence to call upon them to lead a defence in the matter.
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.
During her ruling yesterday, the Chief Magistrate said that she took into consideration the evidence led by the prosecution witnesses and the no-case submissions made by attorney Dexter Todd, on behalf of Sanford, Siand Dhurjon, who represented Morris, and that made by Paton who was unrepresented by counsel.
The Chief Magistrate said that there was sufficient evidence to call upon the three men to lead their defence in the matter.
The Magistrate then told the trio that they have the options of saying something and calling any witness. Morris declined to do either at this stage. Sanford chose to have his attorney present before making a decision and Paton gave a statement, indicating that he would call two witnesses.
Subsequently, the matter was adjourned until April 29.
The case is being prosecuted by police prosecutor Neville Jeffers.
A fourth suspect, Nya John, is separately charged with the crime and is currently before the courts.
