Soldier charged with Sophia bread vendor’s killing

Twenty-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Private Shaquille Grant was yesterday remanded to prison for the murder of Sophia bread vendor, Andre Alexander, who was shot dead by bandits during a robbery at ‘C’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. Appearing before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, Grant of 345 Section ‘B’ Turkeyen, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on May 5, last, he murdered Alexander. Alexander, of Lot 394 ‘C’ Field Sophia, died two Fridays ago during surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The attack occurred at the victim’s bread stand, which is situated about four doors from his home. Police said that Alexander was at his bread stand when two men rode up on a motorcycle. The pillion rider requested three loaves of bread and paid with a $5000 note. It was reported that while Alexander was in the process of making change, the ‘customer’ whipped out a gun and demanded cash. When Alexander put up a fight, the robber discharged two rounds, one of which struck the vendor in the stomach. The two men relieved their victim of his cash and also escaped with three loaves of bread. The murder accused will make another court appearance on June 8 at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Courts. Based on reports, the GDF rank was arrested after cops received a tip-off. The description the police received of one of the gunmen matched that of the soldier. It is suspected that the soldier was the one towing the ‘trigger man’ at the time Alexander was gunned down.

(Kaieteurnews.com)