Two men were jointly charged yesterday in relation to the murder of Dr Colin Roach on November 2nd, 2021.
According to the police, at about 10 am yesterday, 18-year-old Lenrick Byass and 19-year-old Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin were charged jointly with murder in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
The charge was laid under Section 100 (1) (c) (i) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01. The accused appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court #1 before Chief Magistrate Ann McClennan where the indictable charge was read to both of them. They were not required to plead and were both remanded to prison until 30th November, 2021 for report.
Byass and Franklin were both arrested by the Police on November 5th, 2021. The police said that Byass is an unemployed 18-year-old of Lot 282 Good Intent Village, West Bank Demerara. Franklin is a 19-year-old taxi driver of Lot 27 Best Village, West Coast Demerara.
The lifeless body of Roach was discovered at his Kingston, Georgetown International Medical Clinic around 10.30 pm last Tuesday. An autopsy later revealed that Roach died as a result of multiple blunt trauma to the head.
Franklin and Byass were arrested hours apart on Friday. Police had confirmed that Franklin was apprehended in Berbice. At the time, he was at the “back track” route, attempting to flee to Suriname. Byass was arrested on Camp Street.
During questioning, both men reportedly admitted to their roles in the crime and provided detectives with detailed accounts of what transpired.
Stabroek News was previously informed that Franklin told investigators that he struck Roach in his head after he made unwanted sexual advances towards him.
Meanwhile, Byass allegedly claimed that he helped Franklin to rob Roach after he was killed. They relieved him of two finger rings, US$600 and two cellular phones.
Police recovered the two rings and US$200 in Franklin’s possession while Byass was found with $42,000 in cash.
Franklin also led investigators to an area in his Best Village, West Bank Demerara backyard where one of the stolen phones was recovered.
Based on information provided by the suspects, they were drinking with Roach prior to the murder.
Investigators were able to obtain surveillance footage from a city mini-mart which captured Roach and the suspects purchasing alcohol. It was when they returned to Roach’s office that the killing occurred.
This newspaper was further told that Franklin and Byass left the scene together in Roach’s Audi vehicle.
The following morning, police recovered the vehicle on the Schoonord Road, West Bank Demerara. The front bumper, keys and number plate were missing.
Byass told the police that during their journey over the Demerara Harbour Bridge they discarded the murder weapon, the camera from Roach’s office and bottles and glasses which they used during the drinking session, in the river.
Roach was well-known in the medical fraternity for his contributions in his field.
He previously worked as the Director of the National Public Health Laboratory and was a Consultant to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
