Phillip Solomon, the labourer charged with fatally beating a friend with a paddle during an altercation at the Timehri Wharf last year, was yesterday committed to stand trial for the offence.
The charge against Solomon alleged that on October 24th, 2018, at the Timehri Docks on the East Bank of Demerara, he murdered Vernon Cummings.
Magistrate Leron Daly, who presided over the preliminary inquiry (PI), yesterday told Solomon that based on the evidence led by the prosecution’s witnesses, there was sufficient evidence for him to stand trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
According to reports, Solomon and Cummings were friends and both worked as labourers at the docks. They would also drink together and have arguments.
On the day in question, the men were drinking and had a misunderstanding, which led to an argument and then a physical altercation.
During the scuffle, it was reported that Cummings armed himself with a piece of iron, while the accused picked up a wooden paddle and they began to lash each other. Solomon’s brother, after being informed of the fight, reportedly rushed to the scene to make peace. The man, according to the police, took the piece of iron from Cummings, which led to Solomon lashing Cummings to his head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Cummings was later rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he died while receiving treatment.
