Present and former ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have identified the service pistol which was used to shoot electrician Devon Howell.
Accused: Alistair Woolford
At the High Court on Tuesday, it was confirmed that then colleague Jonathon Williams was given the weapon at the Army’s Camp Ayanganna headquarters. This was revealed at Alistair Woolford’s trial which continued at the High Court.
Woolford is facing a manslaughter charge as it is contended that he discharged a loaded firearm at Howell with intent to murder him. The matter is expected to conclude later this week.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the 9mm semi-automatic silver pistol that was used to shoot the Kitty, Georgetown electrician at his friend’s nearby D’Andrade Street residence, was presented in court.
Williams, the weapon holder, who left the gun on top of a refrigerator to use Woolford’s washroom, had testified the gun was the one he retrieved from Army headquarters. GDF Private Dennis Fung and fellow rank Cliff Johnson both confirmed that the silver pistol was the one Williams had taken.
The gun was tendered into evidence by Policeman Oswin Semple who charged the defendant Woolford and held a confrontation with him and Daniel Fletchman, who witnessed Woolford shooting Howell. All four men, including Williams, were friends. Fletchman only Monday recalled witnessing Woolford pointing the gun towards Howell, who spun around before falling to the ground.
Semple told the court Tuesday that after he charged Woolford, the accused replied that Howell was playing with the gun and he was on his phone and was not focusing on him. Later on, Woolford reportedly said that he proceeded to take the GDF service pistol and he squeezed it and it accidentally hit Devon to his neck.
According to Semple’s recollection, the defendant told Police that he, Woolford, “John” and Howell went into a cousin’s car which transported them to the hospital. It was relayed that “John” took the gun and carried it back to the Army base.
Howell was shot on November 21, 2014. He was hospitalised after the incident, and succumbed to his injuries three weeks later on December 8, 2014. Howell reportedly received injuries to his upper spinal cord, and died without regaining consciousness. Woolford is represented by Attorneys Compton Richardson and Hewley Griffith. Attorneys Mandel Moore and Abigail Gibbs are prosecuting the case.
