Duo on trial for murder of Corentyne grocer to know fate next week

Satram Kushlay and Bilall McLennon are presently on trial at the Berbice High Court, before Judge Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member mixed jury, for the murder of Rose Hall Town grocer Lomenzo Johnny of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
After a jury deliberates on the case against 30-year-old Kushlay and 33-year-old McLennon on Thursday, January 4, 2024, these two accused persons will probably know their fate. Next Thursday morning has been designated summation day by Justice Kissoon. After that, he will give the case to the jury for consideration and potential verdict return.

Forty-nine-year-old Lomenzo Johnny, called “Sham”, who operated a grocery store located in the same yard as his home at Lot 11 Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant Corentyne, was murdered during the course or furtherance of a robbery.
On February 27, 2020, his body was discovered in a yard where a building was under construction; it was located some 400 metres from his home. His feet were bound together with a shoelace. The sweater he was seen wearing the evening before was found a few feet away from his body. A pair of scissors and a piece of wood were also found near the body. There was a wound to the back, and bruises to his hand, while his head and face appeared to be swollen.

When Police went to Johnny’s home, they found that the front door was not locked.
The inside of the house was ransacked, and a safe and other items were reportedly removed from the building.
Investigators subsequently received information about the whereabouts of the safe, which contained an undisclosed amount of cash.
State Counsel Muntaz Ali is presenting the prosecution’s case.