Former police corporal freed of murdering city businessman ‘Saga’
The murder charge against former Police Corporal, Derwin Eastman, has been discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed yesterday
Eastman was remanded to prison in 2017 for the murder of city businessman, Godfrey Scipio, popularly known as ‘Saga’ who was shot during a robbery on October 12, 2017.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Eastman was released from prison on Monday.
Three persons were remanded to prison for the businessman’s murder back in 2017. Eastman, who was once named ‘Best Cop’, along with Constable Jameson Williams, were taken before Magistrate Judy Latchman back on November 22, 2017, and charged with the murder of the businessman at Stanley Place and David Street, Kitty, in the course of a robbery.
Eastman and Williams were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.
In July of 2021, Eastman was committed to stand trial for the murder of Scipio at the High Court, while his co-accused, Williams, was freed of the charge. This decision was made by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, who presided over the preliminary inquiry into the charge against the two men.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old pork knocker, Aubrey Bobb, of 79 William Street, Kitty, was also charged with the murder of the businessman. He was charged on October 17, 2017, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. A second charge was read to him for the unlawful possession of 58 grammes of cannabis for trafficking on October 13, 2017, at his home, discovered when police went to arrest him for the businessman’s murder. He pleaded guilty to that charge and was sentenced to three years in jail and fined $34,800.
Bobb initially was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge of murder and was subsequently remanded to prison. It is later at his arraignment for the capital offence at the High Court in Demerara back on September 5, 2022, that he admitted to the charge which stated that he murdered Scipio in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
Scipio, of Lot ‘ZZ’ 22 D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, was shot once in his abdomen during the fatal attack. He succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Woodlands Hospital. A lone gunman pounced on Scipio and a female companion as they were leaving a nearby hotel and demanded
cash and jewellery. The gunman discharged a round, hitting Scipio to the abdomen, and then relieved him of his jewellery before escaping on foot. Scipio was a well-known businessman in the Stabroek Market area. He owned a wholesale and retail business near the Berbice bus park.