-five others surrender
The ongoing investigation into the Main Street kidnapping case, took a legal twist yesterday with the attorney for two of the suspects stating that the police had acted in contempt of a High Court order.
According to attorney-at-law Everton Singh-Lammy, he appeared via Zoom yesterday morning with his clients, Osafo Peters and Alpha Poole, before Justice Nicola Pierre at the High Court to argue for the release of the two men who were being held beyond the 72-hour limit. The Judge subsequently issued orders for the two suspects in the kidnapping of Joshua David to be released from custody.
However, despite the orders, the suspects – Peters and Poole – continued to be detained and yesterday afternoon, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate, Faith McGusty, where they were charged with abduction, contrary to Section 4 of the Kidnapping Act.
The two accused were not required to enter a plea and were remanded to prison until October 11.
In court, their attorney, Singh-Lammy argued that a habeas corpus application was filed that morning since the suspects were held for over 72 hours and the application was granted by the High Court for the suspects to be released. The attorney’s position is that the police kept his clients in unlawful custody after the Zoom hearing in contempt of the court order.
As a result of the refusal to release the suspects, the attorney indicated his intention to file contempt proceedings against the police for not obeying the High Court order. Singh-Lammy is adamant that both suspects are innocent as they have not been involved in any abduction.
In response, Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, told Stabroek News yesterday that the matter is before the court and is therefore sub judice.
Meanwhile, the five other suspects wanted by police surrendered yesterday. They are: Wayne Barker, 34, of Lot ‘G’ Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown; Aaron Alleyne called ‘Cats’, 26, of Lot 9 West La Penitence, Georgetown; Davantai Mars called ‘Sharkie’, 21, of Lot 148 Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown; Damion Barlow, called ‘Dangles’, 32, of Lot 47 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown; and Dwayne Griffith called ‘Sheik’, 24, of Lot 68 William Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
The five suspects will be represented by attorneys-at-law, Damien DaSilva and Siand Dhurjon. According to DaSilva, he is still reviewing the evidence in the case and he too maintains that his clients are innocent. He also expressed hope that the police place the suspects before the court on Monday, before the 72-hour limit expires.
As part of the investigation, a police search team on Tuesday ventured into the Annandale backlands, on the East Coast of Demerara, but came up empty-handed.
Officers from Regional Divisions 4A and 4C began searching in the Buxton backlands, East Coast Demerara, as part of their investigation. Several ranks ventured into the Buxton backlands early Sunday morning with sniffer dogs in search of the missing man. The team spent hours combing the area but without success.
The abduction of David was captured on camera by someone in a vehicle who then forwarded the video to reporters on Monday. In the video, five men could be seen pushing David across Main Street as he attempted to fight them off.
A group of about 70 persons gathered in front of the New Thriving Restaurant on Main Street yesterday in a candlelight vigil and issued a call for David’s safe return. Thursday marked one week since he was abducted while purchasing food.
