Duo to stand trial for 2021 murder of physician

Hilton Oliver Franklyn, 23, and Lenryc Byass, 22, who were charged in November 2021 with the murder of Dr Colin Roach, have been committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court of Judicature. The ruling was handed down on Friday, October 17, 2025, by Senior Magistrate Rhondell Weaver, following the conclusion of the Preliminary Inquiry. The accused were represented by Attorneys Latchmie Rahamat and Nigel Hughes, while the case was prosecuted by Sergeant Quincy Lacon.
Dr Colin Roach was found dead in his Duke Street, Kingston clinic’s office almost 4 years ago. According to the police, the 49-year-old father of three was found lying in a pool of blood in his office by one of his employees who lives in the same building.

Police were summoned and a wound was seen on the left side of the doctor’s forehead. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) pronounced him dead on the scene.
The employee and another worker had been detained by police for questioning.
Police said that at 20:00h, a male was seen exiting the building and returned about seven minutes later and re-entered the clinic. About 22:18h, the vehicle belonging to the doctor headed north out of Duke Street. According to news reports at the time, Franklyn had reportedly told detectives that he had killed Dr Roach by hitting him to his head with a metal object. He claimed that the doctor had become intoxicated during a drinking session they had, and made advances towards him and he was forced to defend himself.
His alleged accomplice, Byass, reportedly confessed that it was a planned robbery intended to raise money so that Franklyn could buy a car. It was reported that the accused also stole the doctor’s gold jewellery and US$600, before cleaning up the crime scene and escaping in the doctor’s SUV.
Detectives, during their investigation, were able to obtain CCTV footage corroborating Byass’ version of events. On November 9, 2021, the two were jointly charged for the physician’s murder. At the time, Byass was an unemployed 18-year-old of Lot 282 Good Intent Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and Franklyn a 19-year-old taxi driver of Lot 27 Best Village, West Coast Demerara (WCD).