Kitty teen to face Judge, jury for fruit vendor’s murder

…charge against father dismissed

A 54-year-old man and his 20-year-old son, who were charged in 2018 for the murder of a fruit vendor, on Friday made another court appearance before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, who made final rulings on the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).
The duo, James McKenzie and Timothy McKenzie, both of Lot 126 Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, were charged with the capital offence of murder. The charge stated that on June 4, 2018, at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, both men murdered Richard Noel, of Lot 39 William Street, Kitty.
In handing down her decision after the completion of the PI, Magistrate McGusty stated that a prima facie case was made out against the younger McKenzie and hence she committed him to face a trial at the Demerara High Court.
Meanwhile, the senior McKenzie had the charge dismissed against him as Magistrate McGusty explained that the testimonies of witnesses supplied by the prosecution contained no evidence for a case against him. The elder McKenzie exited the courtroom a free man while his son remained in prison.
Police reports indicate that the murder reportedly stemmed from an old grievance between the now dead man and the younger McKenzie.
The grievance involved the sister of Noel, who the younger McKenzie had reportedly hit, and that resulted in a fight between the two men.
However, on the day of the murder, the men reportedly crossed paths and McKenzie was heard asking Noel if he “wanted a problem”.
It was reported that Noel walked away, which aggravated the man, who went after him and stabbed him twice to his chest. McKenzie’s father was allegedly with him at the time of the incident. When Noel fell, the men reportedly proceeded to stomp on his chest.
Noel was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries one day later.