Farmer committed to stand trial for murder of handyman

Fifty-one-year-old Richard Martin, a farmer of Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), was on Monday committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court for the murder 52-year-old Ovid Chester, also known as “Bruckie” or “Wannie.”
The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) was conducted by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Magistrate McLennan ruled that sufficient evidence had been presented before the court to establish a prima facie case against Martin.
Martin’s trial is expected to commence at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
The charge stated that on September 2, 2020, at Bourda Market, Georgetown, he stabbed Chester during an argument over money.
The stabbing reportedly stemmed from the sale of a construction net, which the now dead man had sold.
Martin told Police that he waited for Chester to return with his money, but he never did. As such, the accused left but later returned with a kitchen knife and went in search of the now dead man.
He eventually caught up with Chester in a “track” leading to North Road, Georgetown, where he asked about his net or the money, but the now dead man refused to respond.
In retaliation, Martin whipped out the knife from his waist and dealt one blow to Chester’s upper chest.
After receiving the injury, Chester reportedly ran and collapsed a short distance away. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a medical doctor. Martin was subsequently arrested by Police ranks who were on patrol.