Former cops implicated in businessman’s murder to lead defence
From left: Murder accused: Former Best Cop Derwin Eastman, Aubrey Bobb, and Jamison Williams
The two former policemen – Derwin Eastman and Jamison Williams – charged with the murder of businessman Godfrey Scipio are expected to lead an alibi defence on Friday – when the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) continues in a city court.
Eastman, who has been adjudged the Guyana Police Force’s Best cop on several occasions, and Williams are jointly charged with Scipio’s murder which occurred on October 17, 2017, at Kitty, Georgetown.
Dead: Godfrey Scipio
In November, Magistrate Fabayo Azore had ruled that a prima facie case was made out against the duo at the close of the prosecution’s case. In response, Eastman and Williams elected to lead a defence.
Also charged with the murder is Aubrey Bobb, a 26-year-old ex-convict of Kitty. Bobb was the first to be charged and later implicated the two former policemen in a caution statement he gave to law enforcement.
In February 2019, Bobb was committed to stand trial at the High Court for the businessman’s murder following the conclusion of a separate PI after it was established that there was sufficient evidence against him.
It was reported that 64-year-old Scipio, also known as “Saga” was gunned down just as he exited a popular Kitty hotel with a female companion during the furtherance of a robbery. He later succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital.
Bobb, in a caution statement, reportedly told Police that Eastman was the mastermind behind the brazen daylight killing. He accused Eastman of hiring him as the hitman and providing him with the gun.
Eastman reportedly had everything planned out, even assuring the hitman that a lady would deliver the target to the spot while directing that the killing be executed in such a way as to appear like a robbery gone wrong.
Notwithstanding the assurance of protection given by Eastman, reality struck when Bobb returned home the next day to find Eastman, in the company of other Police ranks, ready to arrest him.
Bobb had claimed that he was forced to confess to the crime as he was intimidated by Eastman, who was present at every step of the interrogation. (G1)
