Former Guyana Defence Force rank Jermaine Jefford has filed an appeal challenging his conviction for murder, which was returned by a 12-member jury on Tuesday May 25, 2021.
Convicted killer Jermaine Jefford
Jefford, a 28-year-old father of one, was unanimously found guilty of the 2016 Emancipation Day murder of Orin David, a 33-year-old taxi driver who was gunned down in front of his Laing Avenue home in Georgetown.
Trial Judge Sandil Kissoon had on Wednesday, June 9, sentenced Jefford, called “Smokey”, to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years.
Jefford’s attorney, Senior Counsel Stanley Moore, filed the appeal on Tuesday at the Guyana Court of Appeal, proffering four grounds on which he is seeking to have his client’s conviction overturned. Moore is likely to apply for leave to appeal on the issue of sentencing.
Dead: Orin David
In the meantime, the Senior Counsel is contending that Justice Kissoon misdirected the jury on the law of murder and on the issue of identification evidence and the dangers of relying on dock identification.
He also contends that the trial Judge failed to direct the jury fully and properly on his client’s defence. The lawyer also argues that the verdict of the jury was unreasonable and cannot be supported, having regard to the evidence adduced at trial.
For his part, Justice Kissoon described David’s killing as a deliberate, calculated and brutal act that was committed in the light of day.
“You executed an unarmed and helpless man in full view of his family, in the proximity of his home, in the streets of his community. You are heedless to man…Heedless to humanity,” the Judge told Jefford during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing.
In a victim impact statement, David’s wife expressed that although her spouse had been involved in criminal activities, his death has affected her immensely; and
David’s 16-year-old son has said he is still living with the trauma of witnessing his father’s killing.
When given opportunity to address the court, David’s mother, Joycelyn Munroe, said, “I am happy with the verdict. I am glad that justice has been served.”
As for Jefford, he maintained his innocence, but offered an apology to the family of the deceased in light of the verdict returned by his peers.
On May 21, 2021, Jefford’s co-accused, Howard Rambarose, called “Spleen”, was acquitted of David’s murder after Justice Kissoon upheld a no-case submission made by his lawyer George Thomas. The Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
According to reports, David, also known as “Malik”, was shot dead in front of his Lot 89 Laing Avenue, Georgetown home in the presence of his reputed wife and relatives. He received two gunshot wounds – one to the chest and another to the leg.
It was reported that the father of one was shot following an argument stemming from the payment of debts. It was reported that David had bailed Rambarose out of prison. However, when he confronted Rambarose for the money, a heated argument ensued between them. Jefford reportedly was present while they were arguing. Shortly after, Jefford and Rambarose left David’s home.
However, Jefford returned sometime after with four other men in a motorcar. It was reported that Jefford exited the vehicle and shot David with a 12-gauge shotgun. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In February 2015, David was acquitted by a jury of the August 20, 2010 murder of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) farmer Lakhram Bishundia, who was shot during a robbery at De Hoop Mahaica, ECD. (G1)
