Manager of Fresco Supermarket cleared of attempted murder charge

The attempted murder charge brought against 28-year-old Xinoxi Qu of Lot 1B Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara was dismissed on Thursday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when this accused made another appearance in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Qu was represented by Attorney-at-law George Thomas.
On his first court appearance, Xinoxi Qu, a manager of the Fresco Supermarket at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The Police contention was that, on April 28, 2019 at Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, with intent to commit murder, Qu wounded Sanmoogan Gregory. It was reported that, on the day in question, Gregory had gone to the Fresco Supermarket to purchase some items, which he paid for before leaving the store.
After leaving the supermarket, Gregory was standing on the Diamond Public Road when Qu allegedly approached from behind and dealt him several blows to his body with an object, accusing him of removing a bag of money from the store.
Sanmoogan reported the matter at the Grove Police Station, and was subsequently taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre for medical care. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital(GPHC), where he was admitted for several days.
When the matter was called on Thursday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who was conducting the preliminary inquiry (PI), she said the prosecutor needed to prove that the accused had attempted to unlawfully kill or cause bodily harm to the complainant.
The magistrate said that, throughout the trial, the prosecution did not provide evidence that the defendant had acted unlawfully. She went on to say that, in the opinion of the court, the defendant was merely trying to retrieve a bag which belonged to him. Hence, she ruled that the prosecution’s evidence, at its highest, was insufficient, and thus dismissed the matter against Xinoxi Qu.