Former murder accused arraigned for attempted murder

Former murder accused Kevin France was on Wednesday slapped with an attempted murder charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Thirty-two-year-old France of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
The charge, which was read to him via Zoom, stated that on February 28, 2020, at Blue Martini Club, he attempted to murder Neil Dutchin.
According to information, on the day in question, Dutchin was at the night club with some friends when he and France got into a heated argument over a seating arrangement.
France left, but later returned in the company of two men who were armed with handguns. The men then approached Dutchin and shot him once to his abdomen and once to his right leg, after which they relieved him of his valuables and left the scene.
Dutchin was later picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was admitted.
The matter was reported the following day, and an investigation was launched. France was arrested and charged for attempted murder. another man, 31-year-old Nicholas Chow, a taxi driver of 254 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, was charged for armed robbery committed on the victim.
Chief Magistrate McLennan, after listening to the prosecution’s submission, placed France on $200,000 bail.
In 2014, France was accused of killing Patsan Trading salesman Bharrat Ramcharan, but the charge was dismissed in August 2015 after the court found that there was insufficient evidence to commit him to stand trial in the High Court.