Thirty-year-old Ronald Sackoon, a construction worker of Lot 531 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, appeared yesterday before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with murder.
Sackoon was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
It was alleged that on August 23, at Parika, East Bank Esse-quibo, he murdered taxi driver Leon Parahoo.
Investigations revealed that Parahoo and the accused had an altercation in 2023 where Parahoo had stabbed him.
According to police, Alejandro Alli, a 22-year-old taxi driver of Tuschen New Housing Scheme, who was also arrested in relation to the incident, told investigators that on the night of the incident, he had just dropped off a customer from Tuschen at the Parika Junction when he was approach-ed by Sackoon who he had known for about three months.
Sackoon requested to be taken to Nancy’s Bar located at Parika access road. At the time he was drinking a Guinness stout and was wearing a dark-coloured hoodie and black trousers. Alli related that about a minute into the journey Sackoon instructed him to stop the car as he had forgotten something. He then exited the car and headed in a northerly direction while he (driver) parked his car and awaited his return.
Several minutes later, Sackoon returned hurriedly to the car and instructed that Alli drive while stating that he just “juk up” [stabbed] somebody. Alli told investigators that Sackoon then placed a knife to his neck and repeated his instruction for him to drive. Alli said he became afraid and drove off and while driving, Sackoon told him that if he mentioned anything about the incident he would kill his entire family.
After driving some distance, Alli related that he stopped the car, came out, and instructed Sackoon to exit the vehicle, which he refused to do. Alli in response then took a piece of lumber he normally keeps on the driver’s side of his car and confronted the suspect, who then exited the car and headed to the riverside.
Alli retired to his home where he relayed what occurred to his parents. He later took the police to Sackoon’s home in Zeelugt where they found two kitchen knives, a pair of black jeans and a grey hoodie. The suspect was subsequently taken to the Parika police station and placed in custody.
The matter was adjourned to September 27.
