Two brothers, Brian Hermanstyne and Elden Hermanstyne both of Red Crescent Road, Mackenzie, who were accused of pushing a boat captain, Elick Alexander, overboard back in November 2022, were found not guilty yesterday by High Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow yesterday.
According to a police report, in November 2022, Alexander was allegedly pushed overboard at approximately 1 am on Saturday, about 40 feet off the Wismar shore in Linden.
Enquiries revealed that Alexander was on the Mackenzie shore awaiting passengers when a 25-year-old unemployed man of Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, and a 24-year-old unemployed man of Red Crescent Road, Mackenzie, boarded the boat for the Wismar shore.
While the boat was about 40 feet off the Wismar shore, Alexander was allegedly shoved out of the boat. The boat then proceeded to north shore of the Demerara River.
When the police arrived on the scene, they launch-ed a drone, and during the aerial search, the boat was located in the vicinity of Spieghtland with the two suspects inside. Alexander was not on the boat and a subsequent search for him proved futile.
The body of the 55-year-old Wismar boat captain was recovered on the morning of November 20, 2022 in the Demerara River at around 10 am.
The trial concluded yesterday morning after the prosecution closed its case. The Court found no case was made out against the accused and directed a formal verdict of not guilty against both brothers.
They were represented by attorney-at-law Ronald Daniels.
