Crum-Ewing trial reopens – murder accused fails to show
The case for murdered political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing re-opened on Monday but while family members showed up, the prime suspect was not present in Court.
The matter was called in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Judy Latchman. The court was told that murder suspect, Regan ‘gray boy’ Rodriques cannot be located to be notified that the case was reopened.
State prosecutor, Nigel Hughes told reporters that Rodriques has to be notified by summons then report on the 25th of April.
Rodriques in a video recording said he was innocent of the crime and he was not prepared to go back to jail. That recording surfaced days after the alarm was raised by the Crum-Ewing family members of his disappearance.
The shocking news was conveyed to them by a senior police officer late last month and comes just days after the Director of Public Prosecutions announced that the case will be reopened.
“Something is very strange sick and sad” Eustace Harcourt, the foster father of Crum-Ewing said
He is demanding answers. He believes that the murder of the political activists is not being taken seriously by the authorities.
Harcourt said he is very disappointed and only learnt of Rodrigues disappearance when he took it upon himself to check on his status at Eve Leary. He discloses that a senior police officer informs him that to his knowledge Rodriques was to report to the Police Station twice a week.
Crum-Ewing was executed at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, on March 10th 2015 at that time he was encouraging residents to vote against the then ruling People Progressive Party (PPP/C).
The gray boy was arrested and charged with his murder after the police found the murder weapon at his house at Riverview in Ruimveldt. The charges were later dismissed by Magistrate, Judy Latchman back in September last year.
Harcourt said since Rodriques was arrested he has seen some strange occurrence, pointed to the slothfulness of the police and the DPP in the approach to the case.
Harcourt feels if Courtney’s death was not political the suspects would have already been behind bars.
Businessman accused of fraud granted $3 million bail
A businessman was granted bail when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court this morning, facing six counts of fraud to the tune of $953 million.
Saddiqi “Bobby” Rasul, a Gold and Diamond Exporter pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to him.
The Court heard that between the 21-24 March at Bartica, Rasul with intent to defraud the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, in various amounts ranging from $45million to $298 million by false pretense that he had the cash in his citizen’s bank account.
His attorney told the court that the Bank’s Manager did not honor the protocol laid out by the bank and noted that it was negligence on their part.
He said his client has the cash in his Citizen’s Bank account to honor the cheques.
He will make is next court appearance in the Bartica Magistrates’ Court on April 21st.
Police discover shallow grave where murdered wife may have been buried
Police at Mibicurri, Black Bush Polder have found a shallow grave and have recovered the remains of a woman who they believe is 39-year-old Lilwanie Datbalack.
The woman has mysteriously disappeared some seven months ago, leaving family members clueless but suspicious.
The shallow grave was found in the backyard of the woman’s husband and prime suspect in her disappearnace, 45-year-old Sunil Datbalack.
It is believed that the man murdered his wife and buried her in the shallow grave before reporting her missing. The motive for the killing is still unknown.
Police had been investigating the disappearance since it was reported last August but with fresh information coming to light they were able to arrest the man and his new lover.
The duo was taken into custody at the Whim police station where they were questioned. Police will have to conduct DNA tests on the remains to confirm if it is Lilwanie Datbalack. So far there has not been any reports of a confession by the husband.
Family members said the woman was wearing the wife’s wedding ring at the time of the arrest.
Police investigation is continuing.
UG Students say no to the proposed 35% increase in tuition fees
While the executives of the University of Guyana were meeting at the University’s Lecture Theater, students were protesting the proposed 35% increase in tuition fees announced by the University.
The students said it was not possible at this time given the poor standards on campus, the need for improvements in the toilets and other facilities.
As executives of the UG council were making their way to the meeting the students chanted.
“The thought of losing my arm is very painful”- says 14-year-old
Mureka Bacchus, a Rosignol Secondary student says she is having painful nights and she is unable to move her arm freely.
“The thought of losing my arm is very painful”- says 14-year-old diagnosed with Bone Cancer
Bacchus said about a year and a half ago, she started to experience severe pains in her right arm. The young lady said she told her mother of the pains and immediately they began seeking answers.
Mureka said after a series of tests at the Georgetown Hospital, it was communicated to her that she was diagnosed with bone cancer. She was also told that while the tissues in the arm were ok, her arm was infected.
Not willing to accept those results Bacchus said she began praying and fasting, trusting God for a miracle.
Mureka says all types of things were going through her mind, including the possibility of living with a disability, how her friends would accept her and what the future holds for her.
The young lady said some months later her family tried a private hospital and the news this time around was more to her liking.
Bacchus said she was told that the hand could be saved, but she would require overseas medical attention.
Rhonda Robertson, Bacchus’ mother is appealing to medical institutions abroad that can provide the medical attention her daughter requires, to make contact with her on 592-689-5207/ 232-3222.
The woman says she is worried about what the cost of the treatment would be since she has no idea of the cost and if the hand can be saved and what medical treatment is available for her daughter.
Man dies after colliding with metal rail on culvert
A 27 – year – old man died this morning following an accident along the East Bank Demerara Public Road.
Police say the fatal accident occurred just after mid-night at Land of Canaan and resulted in the death of Nizamudeen Muhammed of Golden Grove.
Enquiries disclosed that Muhammed who was proceeding north along the western side of the road in motor car PRR 4768, allegedly collided with the metal rail of a culvert, lost control, causing the vehicle to topple several times and came to a halt after it struck a lamp pole, on the said side of the road.
As a result, he was flung out of the vehicle.
He was picked up in an unconscious state, taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and was pronounced dead on arrival.
His vehicle received extensive damage.
The body is at Lyken’s Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination. He was the lone occupant of the car.
“Overseer is failing us” – Fyrish Village residents
The residents made those comments during a community outreach in the village with Junior Natural Resouces Minister, Simona Broomes.
They posited that the drainage, roads, play field, no proper street lighting and discolored water coming through their taps are issues that have plagued the community for a number of years.
Video below in our community talk segment
VIDEO: “My children are afraid to come close to me and that’s painful” – acid attack Survivor
Shondel Williamson lost some of her sight and had her face along with other parts of her body disfigured after she was attacked and doused with acid by a former lover.
The 26-year-old mother of two said after walking away from an abusive relationship which she endured for more than 10 years, she was warned by the father of her children that if he cannot have her nobody will.
A threat that was taken lightly and not treated with any seriousness.
He made good on his promise nine weeks ago when he drenched her with acid. Williamson suffered 3rd-degree burns about her body.
Her chances of seeing again are 50/50 but she remains optimistic that she can make a full recovery.
The most painful thing for her is the change in people’s attitude when she presents herself in public.
She also related that her children are afraid to come close to her because of her state.
Her children father’, 34-year-old Alfred DeYounge called “Not ah Bai” is now on remand for attempted murder.
In an exclusive interview, Williams said she accepted this reality and she places her situation into the hands of God.
TO HELP SHONDELL, DONATE TO:
http:// savinghandsemergencyaid.org/ shondellwilliamson
or: https://www.gofundme.com/ saveshondell
or, directly to her bank account in Guyana: Bank: GBTI
Name: Lottia Williamson
Account#: 0010- 6249 – 2017
LATEST: Beating Granny breaks silence
“I know that I am doing wrong, but I am not beating them to leave marks on their bodies is not hot licks, it’s not big licks,” Tain Corentyne Berbice granny told this news outlet when she was confronted about her abusive behaviour towards her motherless grandchild.
The woman denied brutalising her granddaughter despite even though she was caught on camera beating the 9-year-old girl.
The motherless girls have been reportedly enduring physical and emotional abuse by the woman who was expected to care for them after their father abandoned them, soon after their mother’s funeral.
The woman was arrested by the police on Tuesday shortly after the story broke. The matter is still under investigations.
In this video she defends her actions: