Twenty-six-year-old Noah Beaton appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday to face charges related to the murder of the Toshao of Tasserene, Ridley Joseph.
Beaton, who was not required to enter a plea, is accused of killing Joseph on December 16, 2024, at Laluni Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.
Attorney Bernard DaSilva, representing Beaton, told the court that the accused and the deceased had a prior connection. He alleged that Beaton had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Joseph between the ages of 6 and 10. According to DaSilva, Beaton confronted Joseph at a hotel, demanding an admission of guilt for the alleged abuse. When Joseph refused, the confrontation escalated with Joseph making another advance towards his client, DaSilva said.
DaSilva emphasized that his client had been fully cooperative with the police and that they will not be disputing the matter.
The prosecution informed the court that forensic evidence and the post-mortem report are still pending. The matter was adjourned to January 31, 2025.
Joseph’s body was discovered in Room 135 at the Signature Inn Hotel on Laluni Street, Georgetown, with 19 stab wounds, the police said in a statement on Monday.
In their statement, the police said that at about 06.23 hours on Sunday, Joseph checked himself in at the hotel for one night, and he was given room number 135 which is situated on the western side of the middle flat of the three-storey building. Shortly after Joseph checked in, he was seen leaving the hotel for an unknown destination and at about at about 00.50 hours on Monday, he returned to the hotel in the company of a male.
They entered through the southern door of the hotel, where Joseph purchased one bottle of water, from the receptionist. The other male was seen with a Rude Boy bottle in his hand. The men then proceeded to room 135, which they entered. At 02.19 hours, Joseph’s companion exited the room and left the hotel, walking in a western direction on Laluni Street, and then turning south onto Albert Street.
On the floor of the walkway leading to the room, several reddish stains suspected to be blood stains were seen. On the room door, the police said that a hole was seen. It appeared to have been made by a sharp object. Through the hole in the door, Joseph could be seen lying on his abdomen. The body was in a pool of blood and there were several partial footwear impressions among the blood stains on the floor.
