Three accused to lead defence in murder of moneychanger and daughter
-one freed
Magistrate Alisha George yesterday ruled that three men accused of murdering a moneychanger and his daughter in 2019 will have to lead a defence while another was freed.
At the Sparendaam court, Magistrate George discharged the matter against Sean Thomas, one of the five men accused of killing moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arianna at their Better Hope, East Coast Demerara residence.
The magistrate upheld the no-case submission made by Thomas’ attorney.
The other accused Troy Abrams, a vendor of Agricola; Lloyd Sadloo, 37, of Mocha and Paul Chan, 37, a conductor of Sophia will have to lead their defence at the next hearing.
At the virtual session, Sadloo’s attorney informed the court that one witness will be called to the stand. There is no witness on behalf of Chan.
The Magistrate said that the Preliminary Inquiry will continue on May 21st, 2021 at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
A fifth accused, Mark Rufino, who escaped from the Lusignan Prison, was severed from the proceedings following the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.
It is alleged that on July 4th, 2019, at Robert Street, Better Hope, the men murdered the Latchmans in the course or furtherance of a robbery. According to the police, Aaron and his daughter Arianna arrived at their home in a car and as they exited the vehicle they were confronted by the men. A struggle ensued and the perpetrators shot the victims multiple times and escaped with a bag containing cash. The victims were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.