A decision is due to be made today on how the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder charge against the five men accused of killing Better Hope moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter, Arian Latchman, would proceed in wake of the recent escape of one of the men.
The police have said that Magistrate Alisha George will decide how the PI, which is being conducted at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, will move forward.
Mark Rufino, 25, a labourer, of Parika is currently on the run after escaping from the Lusignan Prison in October. He is charged alongside Paul Chan, 37, a conductor, of Sophia; Troy Abrams, a vendor, of Agricola; Lloyd Sadloo, 37, of Mocha; and Sean Thomas, 41, an electrician, of Kitty.
It is alleged that on July 4th, 2019, at Robert Street, Better Hope, they murdered the Latchmans in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
According to the police, the victims arrived at their home in a car and as they exited the vehicle they were confronted by the men and during a struggle, the perpetrators shot the victims multiple times and escaped with a bag containing cash. The victims were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.
Aaron Latchman worked as a moneychanger on America Street, while Arian Latchman was a Medical Technology student at the University of Guyana.
Rufino escaped the Lusignan Prison on October 21. Two other murder accused, Alex Mathias and Arnold Bruce Kennedy, who escaped on the same day, have been recaptured and sentenced for the escape.
