16 men granted bail on terrorism and related charges

Sixteen men accused in connection with the violent unrest that erupted after the death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, were granted bail on Tuesday by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The unrest followed the confirmation that the child’s death was due to drowning, sparking widespread outrage and disorder in parts of Georgetown. The accused were represented by lawyers from Hughes and Stoby’s law firm, as well as attorneys Stacy Gooding, Jevon Cox, Dominick Bess, and Travis Ferreira. The defence argued that many of the men were innocent bystanders, caught at the wrong place and time during the chaos.
The accused, aged between 19 and 53 years, face a range of charges including terrorism, break and enter, theft, and destruction of property. Despite the prosecution’s strong objection to bail, citing the severity of the offences and concerns for public safety, the court granted bail with amounts ranging from $200,000 to $450,000. Those charged jointly with terrorism and break and enter received the higher bail sums.
Among those granted bail are Alex Atkinson, 19, residing at Lot 85 Guyhoc, Georgetown; Devon Lewis, 22, from Lot 14 West La Penitence Housing Scheme; Randy Benjamin, 26, of Phase Two East Ruimveldt; Aidan Cuffy, 21, also from Lot 85 Guyhoc Gardens; and Kerwyn Baksh, 39, of Lot 74 St. Stevens Street, Charlestown. Each faces charges related to terrorism and break and enter and was granted bail at $450,000.
Faizal Kennedy, 33, of Lot 71 East La Penitence, Georgetown, was similarly charged and granted $450,000 bail. Those charged only with break and enter, received lower bail amounts of $200,000, including Shamol Ram, 21, of Lot 1305 ‘B’ Sophia; Leroy Sealey-Yaw, 22, of Lot 26 ‘A’ East La Penitence; Terence Park, 46, of Lot 129 Melanie Damishana; and David Singh, 25, of Lot 52 Laing Street, Charlestown.
Other accused granted bail include Desafio Harvey, 20, residing at Lot 135 King Edward Street, Albouystown; Sherwain Nelson, 20, of Lot 75 West Front Road; and Qulient Elgin, 53, from Albouystown, Georgetown. Each faces terrorism charges and was granted bail at $250,000. Additional men who received bail on terrorism charges include Antonio Lawrence, 19; Kevin James, 34; and Azriel Ashby, 43, of Lot 27 El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice.
The legal teams for the men strongly advocated for reasonable bail terms, emphasizing that many of the accused were not involved in violent activities but were picked up at the wrong place at the wrong time.
They also alleged mistreatment and beatings by police during their arrest. The prosecution remained firmly opposed to bail, but the magistrate still granted bail.
The violent unrest followed the release of the post-mortem report confirming Adrianna Younge’s death by drowning in a hotel pool, a finding that failed to quell public outrage.

The demonstrations escalated into widespread disorder, with acts of arson, looting, and violence reported in Georgetown’s major districts, including Cemetery Road, Albouystown, Hunter Street, and Tucville.
Surveillance footage played a critical role in the arrests, showing the suspects placing debris on roadways, setting fires, and looting supermarkets and other stores. Items stolen include groceries, snacks, phone cards, and hardware valued in the millions of dollars.
Following the hearing, Magistrate McGusty ordered that all accused granted bail return to court on June 4, except for Asbhy, who will return on June 27.