Man committed to stand High Court trial for murdering ex-father-in-law

A man who allegedly killed his former father-in-law during a scuffle on June 21, 2020, was on Tuesday committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court for the murder.

At his initial court appearance, Zakir Hossain was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on June 25, 2020, at Riverview Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he murdered 54-year-old Alexi Gomes.
However, following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI), Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan told the court that sufficient evidence was presented by the prosecutor against Hossain to face a Judge and jury for the heinous crime he committed.
Hossain’s trial is expected to commence at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
It was reported that on the day in question, Gomes saw his grandson in the company of his former son-in-law in the area and stretched out his arms to hug the child but Hossain reportedly got angry and punched him.
It was also reported that a scuffle ensued between the now dead man and his son-in-law during which Hossain picked up a piece of wood and dealt him several blows to the head.
The man fell onto the roadway in an unconscious state but was picked up by a relative and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was treated and admitted a patient. He nevertheless, succumbed a few days later.
As such, the suspect was arraigned for murder when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
A post-mortem performed on the body of Gomes revealed that he died as a result of blunt trauma to the head.