As the High Court trial of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident Bryan Leitch continued before Justice Sandhill Kissoon, the deposition of former Policeman Phillip Bowman was read in the court alleging that the accused told the rank that he did not intend to kill the South-Central hotelier.
“Me ain’t go fuh kill he,” Leitch reportedly told Bowman under caution.
Dead: Joseph Jagdeo
Leitch stands accused of murdering Joseph Jagdeo, between November 13 and 14, 2013 at South Road, Georgetown in Room 10 of the South-Central Hotel. It was revealed on Monday that five witnesses, including key Prosecution witnesses, could not be located locally even though several notices were sent out via television and radio broadcasts. Communications Officer within the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Chambers, Liz Rahaman disclosed the names as former Police Constable Miguel Charles; Shantel De John of Kitty, Georgetown; Felecia Williams of Albouystown, Georgetown;, Kiana Garnett of Good Intent, West Bank Demerara and Trevor Richards.
The 12-member jury was also told via immigration records that a sixth witness, Policeman Bowman left for the United States of America in August 2017 and that there was no evidence that he returned to Guyana. However, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Bharrat Mangru, who conducted the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) before the then Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, read out the deposition of several of the elusive witnesses.
Mangru testified that several exhibits were tendered and admitted into evidence at the lower court, including the wooden key ring for Room 10, a Nokia mobile phone box with three user manuals and the pieces of cloth that were used to tie and gag the hotel owner. Reading from Shantel De John’s deposition, the Police Inspector noted evidence implicating Leitch for selling the phone. De John reportedly claimed that she only had $1000 of the sum that Leitch requested as payment for the SIM card. During a confrontation held by Police, according to De John, the defendant admitted that he sold her a black and grey Nokia phone.
From Felecia Williams’ deposition, the jury heard that she allowed Leitch into Room 9, because he had nowhere else to go. She reportedly had known him from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC). She claimed that Jagdeo, the hotel owner, agreed to let him stay, but an argument between herself and Leitch over his possession of two cellphones erupted. Williams claimed that she took a phone and gave it to Jagdeo and she put Leitch out of her room. The defendant was then placed into Room 10. A worker called “Buxton”, Jagdeo and the witness herself were all present when he was removed, according to Williams’ evidence-in-chief.
In Bowman’s deposition, it was claimed that De John met Leitch at Pike Street, Kitty, where he sold her the phone for $4000. It was stated that the accused similarly admitted to selling her the phone. Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Lawrence Harris, Inspector Mangru admitted the accused was unrepresented when the exhibits were tendered at the Magistrates’ Court and when the witnesses had testified.
State Counsels Mandell Moore and Lisa Cave are appearing for the State, while Leitch is also being represented by defence Attorney Hewley Griffith. The matter continues before Justice Kissoon. (Shemuel Fanfair)
