Two of the three men charged for the July 4, 2019 murders of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arianna Latchman, have led their defences in an ongoing Preliminary Inquiry (PI).
Paul Chan, 37, called “Anthony”, a bus conductor of Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Troy Abrams, 44, called “Rasta Man”, a vendor of Agricola, Greater Georgetown; and Lloyd Sadloo, 37, of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD) are accused of the murders.
So far, Abrams and Sadloo have led their defences, with the latter calling two witnesses. The PI continues today before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts.
Dead: Arianna Latchman and Dead: Aaron Latchman
When the prosecution closed its case earlier this month, Sean Thomas, 41, called “Yankee”, an electrician of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown, who had been jointly charged with the three men, was informed that he was free to go after the case against him was discharged.
This was after the presiding Magistrate upheld a no-case submission made by his lawyer.
A fifth person accused of the double murder, Mark Rufina, 25, a labourer of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), who escaped from the Lusignan Prison some time between October 20 and October 21, 2020, remains on the run.
It was reported that on the day of the murder, both Latchman and his 19-year-old daughter had just returned to their Lot 58 Robert Street, Better Hope, ECD home when they were attacked by armed men.
From left to right: Lloyd Sadloo, Mark Rufino (on the run), Paul Chan, and Troy Abrams
It is alleged that the men held the man and his daughter at gunpoint and took them into the upper flat of their home, where they demanded money. Upon receiving a bag that contained an undisclosed amount of cash, the men shot the money changer and his daughter before escaping.
Shortly after, the businessman and his daughter were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.
Sometime later, a motor car that belonged to the dead businessman which had been used by the bandits, was found at Front Road, La Penitence, Georgetown. During a search of the vehicle, an illegal firearm and several rounds of ammunition were found.
Two of the accused killers – Abrams and Sadloo – had previously been arrested and placed before the court for various offences ranging from robbery under arms to trafficking in narcotics.
Abrams had, in 2016, been found guilty of robbery under arms, committed on money changers Rayburn Fraser and Osaffo Ward at America Street, Georgetown on November 3, 2015, and had been sentenced to five years in prison.
Sadloo had, in 2008, been charged with murder. It is unclear at this time what had been the outcome of that matter. However, in 2016, Sadloo had been handed a four-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of trafficking in marijuana.
He had also been previously charged with armed robbery and escaping from lawful custody. (G1)
