Man serving 33 years for killing hotelier moves to CoA

Former Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident Bryan Leitch called “Big Foot”, who is currently serving a 33-year prison sentence for killing a hotelier, has moved to the Court of Appeal in a bid to have his conviction and jail time quashed.
The matter will be heard on April 12 at 09:30h. He had been indicted for the murder of the owner of South-Central Hotel, Joseph Jagdeo, 62, whose lifeless, bound and gagged body was found in Room 10 at his establishment on November 14, 2013.

After a trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court in 2018, Leitch was found guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to 33 years’ imprisonment.
Police had contended that the now-convicted man committed the act hours after he stole Jagdeo’s cell phone. The prosecution had argued that on November 13, 2013, Leitch and a female companion rented a room at the hotel. However, Jagdeo misplaced his cellular phone after the couple had left the reception area. He later confronted Leitch about the theft.
In sentencing Leitch, the trial Judge had advised him to take advantage of the prison programmes available so that he can add to society in his later years. The now 28-year-old convicted killer had served time at the New Opportunity Corps.
Leitch’s Caution Statement (CS) had stated that he was “sorry” for his actions.
A retired Police Sergeant had quoted from Leitch’s caution statement in which he related that Jagdeo came to his room and told him to leave the hotel, which angered him.
“I was vexed and I tell he and I tie he hand and put a cloth around he mouth and tie it. I push he under the bed and put the room key on the bed. I then go to the office and took out he cell phone; I sorry for what happen, I didn’t go to kill he,” the excerpt from the CS had stated. (G1)