Accused fish depot bandit implicated in multi-million-dollar robbery

By Paula Gomes

Moments after being remanded by Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman for the illegal possession of one 9mm pistol and matching live ammunition on Monday, Marvin Blackman was arraigned before Georgetown Court Two Magistrate Leron Daly on an indictable offence detailing that on May 20, 2017 at Craig Village, East Bank Demerara (EBD), while in company of others and being armed with a handgun, he robbed Dai Su Cheng of one minibus valued at $2.3 million, fish glue valued $25.7 million, and cellular phones and a quantity of cash to the total value of $28,780,000.
Guyana Times had previously reported that Feyoud Amin, Winston McKenzie and Andre Vieira were in early July arraigned before Magistrate Judy Latchman in relation to the same matter, and were remanded to prison.
These three men were also arraigned before Magistrate Latchman on Monday, and were further remanded when the magistrate maintained her position in regard to their being placed on bail, as the prosecutor argued that no special reasons had been advanced by defence counsel for them to be considered for bail.
Prosecutor Harris informed Magistrate Daly’s court that the four suspected bandits will soon be jointly charged with the offence.
Blackman had committed the named offences while being out on bail pending the “Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot” robbery trial and a series of other armed robbery charges, which are presently ongoing before the courts.
Blackman was late last year charged along with two others – Jason Brotherson and Neesan Benny – for allegedly robbing Shane Robin of $560,000 in cash and fishing equipment to a total value of $2,560,000, on December 2, 2016 at Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara.
According to media reports, on the day in question, one bandit was shot by Police while another was apprehended and a third made good his escape following the burglary.
The injured bandit was shot to both of his legs by Police ranks who responded to the report of a robbery at the fish depot at about 00:45h. Blackman was apprehended at the site, and according to reports, ranks of the Guyana Police Force found him hiding in the ceiling.
Blackman was remanded to prison until August 28, 2017.
Blackman is the son of slain waitress Deborah Blackman, who was shot in April 2014 when bandits stormed the Delicious Chinese Restaurant on D’Urban Street, Georgetown.
This matter is being heard before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who according to media reports had recently rebuked Defence Counsel Melvin Duke (who represents prime suspect Shelton George) for failing to properly notify her of his desire to have an adjournment in the murder Preliminary Inquiry (PI), thereby causing a delay in the process of dispensing justice.