Twenty-one-year-old Jason Howard and his alleged accomplice, Curtis Vasconcellos, 23, on Wednesday reappeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who dropped two attempted murder charges against the duo for which they are currently on remand among several other matters.
Jason Howard and Curtis Vasconcellos
The first charge alleged that the men were jointly involved in the attempted murder of Tower Hotel security guard Balmick Persaud on December 14, 2016 during the process of a robbery.
Another attempted murder charge was mistakenly dropped against Howard, who on October 21, 2016, at Water Street, Georgetown maliciously and unlawfully wounded Virtual Complainant (VC), Quacy Joseph with intention to murder him.
The defendant in the afternoon reappeared before the Chief Magistrate and the charge was reinstated.
In addition, three new charges were brought against the duo alleging that on December 14, 2016, the men unlawfully and maliciously discharged a loaded firearm at the security guard at Tower Hotel, Main Street Georgetown, with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.
The second charge read that the men, on the same day, unlawfully and maliciously wounded the virtual complainant with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.
The men were not required to plead to the indictable charges, but a not-guilty plea was entered by the duo with respect to the third charge, which stated that the men on December 16, 2016 in an armed robbery stole $ 2.969 million from Tower Hotel accountant Baldeo Seegobin.
The court was informed that the men have outstanding matters of similar nature before other courts.
It is alleged that Howard on October 1, 2016 robbed Roopnaraine Boodhoo of $800,000 on North Road, Georgetown and Bibi Bacchus of $100,000 in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara on November 6, 2016. He was also jointly charged with three others for the murder of an elderly couple at their Good Hope, East Bank Demerara residence.
Meanwhile, Vasconcellos will stand trial at the Georgetown High Court for the attempted robbery of a Grove, East Bank Demerara businessman, Nazeem Khan.
The defendants are to remain on remand and the matter will continue at the magistrate’s court on February 16, 2017.
