One of the suspects who was nabbed in Berbice last Monday in connection with last week’s fatal Laing Avenue shooting was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with the murder.
Oyama Patterson, 23, also called ‘Shemroy’, a security guard of Hardina Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, made his appearance on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
The charge against him alleges that on November 11, at Laing Avenue, he murdered 53-year-old Dexter McFarlane, of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt.
Patterson was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until November 29.
It was said by the police that Patterson and a 16-year-old boy were nabbed in No.53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice on Monday.
During the court proceedings, Police Prosecutor and Assistant Superintendent of Police Neville Jeffers said that on the day of the offence, Patterson was involved in a dispute with another group of males and he was reportedly beaten but managed to escape from the squabble.
A few minutes later, taking no defeat, the defendant and the teen allegedly returned to the location while armed with guns.
Jeffers went on to say that Patterson and the other suspect then opened fire on a group of men which included McFarlane. As a result, the men began running and Patterson and his confederate turned to McFarlane and began chasing him while firing several rounds in his direction.
As a result, the man was shot. He was eventually rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by public-spirited citizens and died while receiving medical treatment. The defendant and the other suspect had then made good their escape.
The prosecutor contended that there is strong evidence against the accused as there is CCTV footage which highlighted Patterson’s role in the crime. He also said the man admitted to the crime in a caution statement.
Jeffers mentioned that the teen is likely to be charged sometime in the new week.
Patterson was represented by attorneys Narissa Leander, Edrianna Stephens and Shawn Shewram.
It was initially reported that on the day in question, McFarlane had just exited a bus after coming off from work and was walking through a short cut at Second Bridge in Laing Avenue to go home when two groups of men were exchanging shots, which resulted in the now dead man being hit in the crossfire.
