A paper committal will now be a part of the court proceedings for the two men who allegedly robbed and murdered 36-year-old Garfield Newton last Christmas Eve.
The murder charge which was brought against 25-year-old Darren Baley called ‘Fifty’ of 3091 Recht-Door-Zee, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and Judah Vickery, 24, called ‘Culture’ of Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, Squatting Area, WBD, was called on Tuesday before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
During the court hearing, the prosecution and the defence attorney had made a decision to continue the preliminary inquiry via a paper committal where the witnesses’ statements and documented evidence would be tendered to the court to be inventoried and marked as exhibits.
Magistrate Daly then adjourned the matter until September 26 when the inquiry will continue.
Newton, a martial arts instructor and bodyguard, of Lot 454 Mandela Avenue, was shot in the left side of his chest during a robbery which was said to have been committed by three men.
It was reported that during the attack, the bandits had carted off a silver hand band, a gold chain, two gold finger rings and a cellular phone. The bandits also stole a Glock 9mm pistol and two magazines containing 15 rounds of ammunition each which was in Newton’s possession.
In a brief statement, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had said that Newton went to a goldsmith at Campbell Street, Albouystown, where he collected the silver hand band, gold chain and two gold finger rings, which he had taken to clean. The police said that he left walking on Campbell Street heading in a northern direction to motor van, GPP 7505 which he parked on Sussex Street, Albouystown.
However, about five minutes later, according to the police, the goldsmith was informed by a teenager that the person who had collected the jewellery had been shot and was lying on the street. As a result, the goldsmith went out and saw Newton lying motionless face down in the street.
