Former Sophia block maker, Ishaka John, now awaits sentencing after being found guilty of the 2019 murder of Jason Bowen whom he was said to have strangled during a suspected robbery.
Following hours of deliberations yesterday afternoon, the 12-member jury returned a unanimous verdict, finding John guilty as charged.
Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, before whom the trial was conducted, has deferred sentencing to February 9th of next year, to first hear from probation and other social impact reports.
The incident had occurred in front of the Office of the then Leader of the Opposition on Church Street, Georgetown.
A security guard who was on duty at the office that night and had witnessed the incident, had said that the suspect and Bowen were seen scuffling when the suspect wrapped a belt around the victim’s neck and strangled him.
The suspect was afterwards apprehended by public-spirited citizens and handed over to the police.
In December of 2020, John had escaped from the Lusignan Prison; but was recaptured shortly after.
He was said to have escaped the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay sometime between 2am and 2.20am on December 23rd, 2020.
He was spotted the following at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, where he was immediately arrested by ranks on a mobile police patrol.
