Businessman’s son refused to hand over money – court hears

Armed bandit’s killing

The High Court trial of businessman Lawrence Wayne, who allegedly shot and killed a bandit in August 2014, continued before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow on Tuesday. At the day’s proceedings, the 12-member jury heard the testimony of the man’s son, Akeem Ashton Wayne, who despite being a schoolboy, refused to hand over money to the two “tall” armed bandits, who infiltrated Wayne Beverage Paradise on Merriman Mall, in Georgetown.

The court heard that the lad would work at the business on school holidays and he was the cashier at the time of the invasion.
Wayne recalled that he had observed a car on Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, parked for about five to 10 minutes. The secondary school student further explained that two men armed with guns “collared” and “slapped” him, demanding that he hand over a bag which they believed contained money. This, the witness noted, left him traumatised. The younger Wayne testified that he was not willing to surrender the bag and neither of the men was able to get it.
It was later suggested by Defence Counsel Stanley Moore representing Lawrence Wayne that the men may have known what to look for. In fact, Akeem told the court that as the cashier, he received large amounts of money and that he normally stored the money in the bag before he handed it over.
Additionally, the court heard from a separate witness that the bandit who was shot and killed, Dexter Lindo, and other associates, would frequent a Light and Sixth Streets business place where they would consume alcoholic beverages. It was nearby at Light and Fifth Streets, Alberttown, where Lawrence chased Lindo and another accomplice, before the suspected bandit was shot to the abdomen after a confrontation.
According to facts of the case, Wayne who was a licensed firearm holder, had pursued the suspected bandits after a female stallholder had raised an alarm when the men entered the Wayne Beverage Paradise premises on Merriman Mall.
He followed the bandits after they fled in their getaway car before accosting and shooting Lindo. Though Lindo escaped, he was later admitted to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown where he succumbed to his injuries. Police recovered an unlicensed .32 Beretta Pistol with four matching rounds which was reportedly in the possession of the bandit.
In May 2015, the licenced firearm holder was nabbed at the then Ogle International Airport moments after returning from Barbados. He was remanded and formally arraigned for the bandit’s death. Wanye is also being represented by Attorney Maxwell McKay while the State’s case is being led by Prosecutor Shawnette Austin.
The trial continues before Justice Barlow at the Demerara High Court.