Hotelier to face judge, jury for death of neighbour

Erwin Bacchus of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, was on Tuesday committed to stand trial at the High Court for the murder of his neighbour, Jason De Florimonte.

The 46-old-year man, who is the owner of Tourist Villa Hotel in Subryanville, Georgetown, was committed to stand trial by Magistrate Judy Latchman after a prima facie case was made out against him at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
Bacchus was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, while Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd prosecuted the matter.
It is alleged that on August 4, 2018, Jason De Florimonte of Lot 96 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, was reportedly assaulting his girlfriend, Christine Rambarran, in front of his home at about 01:45h.
This caught the attention of a 29-year-old handyman employed at the hotel, who intervened to assist the woman. That intervention reportedly angered 30-year-old De Florimonte, and an argument ensued. Realising that the situation was escalating, the handyman ran into the hotel, with De Florimonte in hot pursuit.
Bacchus reportedly whipped out his licensed firearm and allegedly fired several shots in De Florimonte’s direction. De Florimonte was shot and subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination conducted on his body gave his cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.
Erwin Bacchus, of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, was initially charged with manslaughter when he made his first court appearance and was released on $1.5 million bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
However, the manslaughter charge was withdrawn and upgraded to the capital offence of murder, based on the recommendations by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after an investigation into the incident was completed.