“Magga Man” appeals life sentences for Agricola, Nandy Park killings

Orpheus Johnson, who was handed two life sentences for fatally shooting two men at Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Agricola, Greater Georgetown, has filed an appeal in which he complains that the jail terms are manifestly excessive and severe.
In court documents filed at the Court of Appeal, it was revealed that the killer is desirous of adding other grounds.

On May 3, 2021, 34-year-old Johnson called “Magga Man” was handed two life sentences for unlawfully killing Travis Rudder, 26, and 32-year-old Gladstone George. Rudder was killed on June 21, 2015, at Nandy Park, while George was killed on April 22, 2015, at Agricola.
Johnson, a father of three, formerly of Craig, EBD, was initially indicted for the capital offence of murder but admitted guilt to the lesser counts of manslaughter when he appeared before Demerara High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon. The Judge sentenced him to life in prison on each of the two counts. The convicted killer only becomes eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 30 years.
According to reports, Rudder, his reputed wife, Mowanza Gill, and their then 18-month-old son Jaheal Rudder were shot while they were sleeping at their Nandy Park home on Father’s Day of June 2015. Johnson opened fire on the couple and their baby through a window.

As a result of the attack, Rudder was reportedly shot 21 times about his body. His reputed wife was reportedly shot seven times to her legs. Their son received injuries to his stomach and leg. The family was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where the older Rudder was pronounced dead on arrival. Gill and her baby were admitted in serious condition but they survived.
George was shot several times by Johnson while he was a passenger in a minibus that had stopped at Agricola. Johnson walked up to the window and discharged several rounds at George. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he too was pronounced dead.
Johnson was also indicted on two counts of attempt to commit murder committed on Gill and her son. To these charges, he also pleaded guilty, thereby admitting that on June 15, 2015, at Nandy Park, he discharged a loaded firearm at Gill and little Rudder with intent to murder them.
Johnson was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 20 years on each of the two counts of attempt to commit murder. Like the life sentences, these two sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The two life sentences with parole after 30 years and 20 years’ jail terms will run concurrently. The prison authorities were ordered to deduct the time Johnson spent on remand awaiting trial.

A probation report revealed that after Johnson dropped out of school at age 14, he developed delinquent tendencies which led to him appearing before the courts.
Besides being committed to the New Opportunity Corps, Johnson was listed as a person of interest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters as he was reportedly the leader of a gang that operated in Craig, EBD, Kaneville, EBD, and Agricola.
CID records revealed that he was involved in several criminal activities such as robbery under arms, possession of an illegal firearm, and ammunition for which he was convicted.
The probation report disclosed that although his family members reprimanded him for his delinquent lifestyle, he continued along that path. The mother of one of Johnson’s three children also attempted to smuggle marijuana into the prison for him.
But although Johnson pleaded guilty to the killings, he continued to profess his innocence.
In fact, at his sentencing hearing, he told Justice Kissoon, “I am innocent of this charge sir and I am very sorry to the family that got hurt and everything. It wasn’t my fault and them things sir. Just being at the wrong place at the wrong time mek I get caught up in this story here…”
Johnson was previously indicted for the April 2009 murder of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara resident Brendon Charles, whose lifeless body was discovered in a yard a short distance from his home. After a trial, a jury at the High Court in Demerara found him not guilty of the capital offence.