Wheelchair bound accused found dead in prison cell
-had been charged with killing of waitress, attempted murder of magistrate
Shelton George, the man charged with both murdering a waitress at a Chinese restaurant and the attempted murder of a magistrate, was found dead in his cell at the Lusignan Prison yesterday morning.
Acting Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels confirmed to Stabroek News that the lifeless body of George, who was confined to a wheelchair, was found in his cell around 5.50 am yesterday. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where he was pronounced dead approximately one hour after.
At the time of the discovery, George’s body bore no visible marks of violence. An autopsy will be conducted soon to determine the cause of his death.
George, 22, of 146 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, was arrested by the police on February 1 at his mother’s Better Hope home.
He was taken into custody for questioning and later charged with two offences, including the murder of Debra Blackman, the waitress who was shot dead at the Chinese Delicious Rest-aurant on D’Urban Street on August 23, 2014.
The charge had stated that he murdered Blackman at D’Urban Street, Wortmanville.
Blackman, called ‘Debbie,’ of Critchlow Circle, Tucville, sustained a single bullet wound to the head.
During his arraignment, George’s attorney, Nigel Duke, had requested a speedy trial, while noting that his client had a spinal injury, which required 24hour medical attention.
George had told the court that he was shot while in Suriname and that the incident resulted in his confinement to a wheelchair.
The preliminary inquiry into the murder charge was ongoing.
Apart from Blackman’s murder, George was also charged with the attempted murder of former magistrate Fazil Azeez.
It was alleged that on April 25, 2015, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, George discharged a loaded firearm at former Magistrate Azeez with the intent to murder him. Azeez resisted and was shot in his abdomen by the armed man, who later escaped after persons rushed out from nearby, upon hearing the gunshot.