The five persons who were charged for the murder and shallow grave burial of a British teen, who disappeared three years ago, have all been committed to stand trial in the High Court.
Aaron Hing, also known as “Neutral”
The five – Aaron Hing, also known as “Neutral”, 26; and his friend Staymon George, called “Sherwin”; along with Krystal Thomas, called “Kathy,” 22, of Lot 19 Public Road, Kildonan; Jahmeil Sinclair, called “Fross,” or “Bacchus,” 21, of Kildonan; and Sinfine Henry, called “Coreen”, 39, of Nurney Village, will have to stand trial before a Judge and jury in the High Court at the next sitting of the Berbice Assizes.
Staymon George called Sherwin
Magistrate Charlene Artiga had set Friday to rule on whether the caution statements submitted by the prosecution were indeed free and voluntary.
In her ruling, Magistrate Artiga pointed out that Hing was arrested in Georgetown on January 8, 2016, which is the same day that the statements were given. She said there was not enough time for the statement to be taken under oppressive circumstances and as such the statement was free and voluntary.
A similar ruling was given for George, who was arrested on January 9, the same day the statements were taken. The court also ruled that the statement given by Sinclair who was arrested on October 1, which was also the very day he was arrested.
As it relates to Thomas, the defence had argued that the statement she gave to Police was not free and voluntary, noting that she was being held in unhealthy conditions and had to be treated for an infection.
However, Magistrate Charlene Artiga ruled that the statement was obtained on the day she was arrested which is before she was arrested. Hence, the statement was free and voluntary. A similar ruling was made for the statement given by Henry who also had to be treated for an infection.
The prosecution on Friday moved to have Thomas, Sinclair and Henry charged jointly with Hing and George for the murder. However, Magistrate Artiga ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that the tree had any knowledge that a robbery and murder was committed. While they tried to conceal evidence and protect George, they were aware that he had committed a crime but that does not constitute to murder. Hence, the prosecution failed to make out a prima facie case against the three for murder.
However, a prima facie case was made out against them for accessory after the fact of murder. Meanwhile, it was reported that the two men allegedly bludgeoned 18-year-old Dominic Bernard to death before burying him in a shallow grave at Nurney, Corentyne.
The victim’s 23-year-old godbrother, Aaron Hing, and his 24-year-old friend Staymon George both of Kildonan Village, Corentyne, were charged for his murder.
According to reports, Bernard had arrived in Guyana for a three-week vacation with his godbrother. He was scheduled to fly back to England on November 5, 2016 and after he did not return home, his father contacted his godson (Hing) about his son’s whereabouts.
However, Hing reportedly told his godfather that he was unaware that the teen was coming to Guyana. This raised suspicions and after the father flew to Guyana, British and local law enforcement were called in to investigate the teen’s disappearance. This led to the teenager’s decomposed body being found in a shallow grave at Nurney. It appeared to have been mutilated.
A post-mortem examination had revealed that the young filmmaker had been struck at the back of the head. He sustained a fractured skull, as well as a broken neck. Speaking with reporters outside the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court, the dead teen’s mother, Lynda Bernard, said she was relived and that God as in charge. “It is a step forward for justice for my son and it mattered. I am so pleased with the outcome. I am so relived knowing that it is going to the High Court.”
