Two men were on Monday charged and remanded to prison for the Christmas Eve 2021 murder of 28-year-old Deon Charles who was gunned down at Albouystown, Georgetown.
Ezekiel Hawker, 19, a shopkeeper of Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, and Mickel Forde, 31, a welder, of Tucville, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
They were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on December 24, 2021, they murdered Charles. They were both remanded to prison until January 27, 2022. The two murder accused were represented by defence counsel.
Charles of 42 Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown was gunned down just before midnight on Christmas Eve. A Police report said that Charles was standing on the southern side of James Street, Albouystown when a white Toyota Axio (registration number unknown), came from an eastern direction and stopped in front of him.
The Police said that two males exited the back seat of the car (one was identified) and approached Charles and a loud explosion suspected to be that of a gunshot was heard after. When Charles fell to the ground, the suspects immediately re-entered the car and made good their escape.
The injured man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. He sustained a gunshot wound to his head. Following the fatal shooting, the Guyana Police Force had issued a wanted bulletin for Hawker.
He was arrested last week Wednesday by law enforcement officials in neigbouring Suriname, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had announced. Meanwhile, Forde was arrested at his home on December 26, 2021.
The Crime Chief said that Hawker admitted to the crime under caution. He allegedly told detectives that he shot and killed Charles who had previously shot him on two occasions after seeing him on Christmas Eve night on James Street, Albouystown.
It is believed that Forde was the driver of the motorcar which transported Hawker to and from the scene. The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that the duo be charged with the capital offence.
