The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday said it has advised that Magistrate Alisha George proceed with the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of a moneychanger and his daughter despite the fact that one of the five accused had escaped from prison and is yet to be recaptured.
In a statement yesterday in response to news items on the case, the DPP’s Chambers said it has advised that the magistrate proceed in relation to the four accused who are in custody. The DPP said that this has been done before in several other preliminary inquiries. The statement from the DPP’s Chambers also chided the police prosecutor for not having sought its advice earlier.
On Friday, the prosecution in the PI into the 2019 murder of Better Hope moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter, Arianna Latchman had been given a Monday deadline to seek further advice on the matter.
The prosecutor thereafter sought the DPP’s advice and this was given on Friday.
At a previous hearing in December, the court was told by the magistrate that because the five men who are on trial are jointly charged with Mark Rufino, who recently escaped from the Lusignan Prison, the PI could not proceed under the circumstances. The prosecution was given a month to seek advice from the DPP on how to proceed. The Prosecutor said that the time granted provided the opportunity for the Police to recapture Rufino.
The time was granted but when he case was called again on Friday, the Prosecutor told the court that the man had not been recaptured and hence they would be seeking the DPP’s advice going forward. However, attorney-at-law Glenn Hanoman told the court that the prosecution had enough time to seek advice to have Rufino removed from the joint charge. He further said that his client, Lloyd Sadloo, has been remanded since being read the charge and that it would be unfair to the persons on remand to have the matter put on hold until Rufino is captured. It was suggested to the court that the charge be dismissed until the prosecutor has enough evidence to have the men brought to court or remove Rufino from the charge.
Magistrate George agreed that prolonged remand was unfair and adjourned the matter until tomorrow. The Prosecutor is then formally expected to present the DPP’s advice.
Rufino, 25, a labourer, of Parika is currently on the run after escaping from the Lusignan Prison in October last year. He is jointly charged with Paul Chan, 37, a conductor, of Sophia; Troy Abrams, a vendor, of Agricola; Sadloo, 37, of Mocha; and Sean Thomas, 41, an electrician, of Kitty. The charge alleges that on July 4th, 2019, at Robert Street, Better Hope, they murdered Latchman and his daughter, 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. 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.
