A beverage vendor was on Wednesday freed of a charge after the virtual complainant told the court that the man was innocent.
Derwin Benons, 28, of Lot 298 Meadow Brook Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, had previously been remanded by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for allegedly discharging a loaded firearm. However, on Wednesday, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, the man who made the complaint told the court that Benons did not shoot at him.
It is alleged that on July 28, at Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, while in the company of another, Benons discharged a loaded firearm in the direction of Kenneth Reid, with intent to maim, disfigure, or cause grievous bodily harm.
He was not required to plead to the charge. On Wednesday, he told the Chief Magistrate that he was innocent and that Reid has also admitted that he is innocent. Called to clarify to the court whether he told Benons that he knew it was not Benons who shot at him, Reid told the Chief Magistrate that he re-checked his cameras and saw it was not Benons.
Reid explained that he made the allegation to the police on the very night of the incident. He said that Benons was on a motorcycle and had been riding in circles. He added that Koabe Grant, who is also charged with the offence, had been riding with his brother, Joshua Grant. He said that he and Joshua have an ongoing feud and that he made the report of the incident immediately after it happened. But he had to return to the police the next day to give names for the report. He said that he returned home, confirmed the names of the men and returned to the police. Following the reports, he decided to check his cameras again and he saw that it was not Benons who had shot at him, but by this time, he had already made the report. The man was then charged.
According to the police prosecutor, at about 21:37 hrs, Reid was sitting at his gate when Benons and another passed on a motorcycle. Reid alleged that Benons and his accomplice turned around and thereafter, Benons, who was the pillion rider, dismounted and discharged a round in the direction of Reid. He then remounted the bike and the two men rode away.
Following Reid’s explanation, the investigating rank was summoned and he explained that according to the man’s latest report, Benons was not the man who discharged the gun in his direction. He said that the man has brought this information to the police. The charge was subsequently dismissed.
Koabe Grant, who was remanded to prison after being charged with the murders of Guyana Defence Force Lance Corporal Daniel Fraser and his girlfriend Shanicka Forde, who were gunned down in Sophia, is also charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Reid.
