Keith McKenzie, the taxi driver who was charged with being one of the three accessories to the murder of gold miner Deon Stoll, secured bail yesterday.
Following partial disclosure of evidence in relation to the murder of Stoll, who was shot and killed last October after armed bandits attempted to rob him outside of El Dorado Trad-ing in Newtown, Kitty, he was granted $500,000 bail by the High Court yesterday.
At his arraignment, McKenzie’s attorney, George Thomas, had told the court that he was merely hired without knowledge of the crime during the group’s first appearance before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. He was granted bail with the condition that he lodge his passport with the court and report to the police once per week.
Of the seven persons charged, McKenzie is the only one who has secured bail.
The seven are expected to make their next appearance at the court on February 7th, when full disclosure is expected to be made and a date is to be set for the Preliminary Inquiry into the charge to commence.
Shane Morgan, called ‘Demon,’ Roberto Sankar, Wayne St Hill and Steve Rollox are charged with the capital offence of murder. The allegation against them states that on October 14th, 2019 at Kitty, Georgetown, they murdered Stoll during the course or furtherance of a robbery. The quartet first appeared in court in October last year.
Meanwhile, Odessa St Hill, who is the cousin of Morgan and St. Hill, Dr Alonzo Dos Santos, Duncan Vanvield and McKenzie were charged with aiding Morgan, knowing that he was wanted by the police in connection with the murder of Stoll. It is alleged that between October 13th and October 23rd, 2019, knowing that Morgan, Sankar, St Hill and Rollox murdered Stoll, they offered assistance to him.
Stoll, 44, a father of two of Baramita Avenue, Bel Air, was shot and killed after armed bandits attempted to rob him upon his arrival at El Dorado Trading. His driver, Clayton Powley, 43, of Turkeyen, and the security guard of the business, Rory Deegs, 40, of Lot 7025 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, were also injured in the shootout at the location.
Police had said enquiries revealed that Stoll and Powley had just finished transacting business at a Sheriff Street, Campbell-ville location, where they collected a sum of cash.
They then proceeded to El Dorado Trading to conduct further business. “On arrival, a motor car which was travelling behind their vehicle stopped and two men exited the car wearing caps with their faces tied with kerchiefs,” the police had said. One of the bandits had a gun while the other was armed with a knife.
“One with the knife approached Powley while the other approached Stoll with a handgun,” the police said before adding that the knife-wielding bandit ordered Powley to get out of the car while the other told Stoll not to draw his firearm.
However, according to the police, Powley exited the car and attempted to fend off his attacker and he was shot in one of his hands. By this time, Stoll drew his licensed firearm and he and the gunman exchanged gunfire. The bandits then ran and re-entered their car, which was driven by a male accomplice, and fled empty-handed.
