A 23-year-old woman was remanded to prison yesterday after she was charged with the murder of Latoya Haywood, the mother of two who was fatally stabbed on Christmas morning.
Shaleza Ellis, who was previously reported to be on the run, was not required to plead to the indict-able charge after it was read to her by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court Five.
It is alleged that on January 23rd, 2020, at Georgetown, Ellis murdered Haywood, called ‘Toya.’
Haywood, who was stabbed in the region of her heart on Christmas morning, succumbed to her injuries on January 23rd at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after being in a coma for almost a month.
Ellis, who lives at Charlotte Street, was remanded to prison and was told to make her next court appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One on February 3rd.
Haywood, of Leopold Street, had spent Christmas Eve night at a Breda Street party with her relatives and friends. At the party, she approached Alfie Garraway, the father of her cousin’s child, who is also Ellis’ boyfriend, and asked him to buy her a drink. Ellis reportedly got angered at Haywood’s request and an argument ensued.
Shortly after, Haywood’s cousin, Tenisha Favorite, turned up at the scene and got into an argument with Ellis. While Ellis was being driven away from the scene, she reportedly attempted to stab Favorite with a knife but ended up stabbing Haywood instead.
Relatives rushed Haywood to a hospital, where she slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness. A CT scan revealed that she was brain dead.
Last October, Ellis was jointly charged with Garraway for the possession of firearm and ammunition. They were also jointly charged for the possession of cannabis. They were both released on $100,000 bail. Garraway is also accused of unlawfully and maliciously conspiring with other persons to cause an explosion by way of using a grenade, which was likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property. He was one of the three who were arrested and charged with allegedly committing the act of throwing a grenade at a vehicle belonging to Kaieteur News publisher Glenn Lall.
