No bail for Venezuelans charged with attempted murder of cop

Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith Mc Gusty on Wednesday denied bail to four Venezuelan nationals who are charged with the attempted murder of a Police Officer.

Victoria La Cruz, Gabriel Campose, Lilbeth Valasquez, and Jesus Herrea were charged following an incident on November 23, 2024, at Stabroek Market, Georgetown where Police Constable Nathaniel Giddings was brutally stabbed while attempting to intervene in a brawl between two women.
Reports indicate that during the altercation, one of the women attacked Giddings with a broken bottle and a knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds to his body and neck.
Two male suspects allegedly joined in the attack, which eyewitnesses described as chaotic.
The injured officer fired warning shots into the air before being rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
During the incident, two suspects also sustained injuries and required medical attention.
Police later arrested six individuals, including the four charged Venezuelan nationals, and investigations revealed that the suspects had reportedly turned on each other during the melee.

In an effort to secure their pre-trial release, the lawyer for the accused argued for bail, presenting a witness, Bibi Khan, who claimed to have known La Cruz and the others for over five years.
Khan stated that she lived at 201 Third Street, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and that La Cruz and her alleged accomplices lived on Fourth Street, a block away.
The prosecution countered that this testimony was inadequate to guarantee the accused would attend future court hearings.
The Magistrate noted that during a prior hearing, only two of the accused had appeared virtually, though it was not specified which two.
She ruled that the objections raised by the prosecution, including concerns about the defendants’ flight risk, were valid, and bail was denied.
The matter was adjourned to February 19, 2025, to allow the Police time to complete the case file, review Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, and seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
While the four defendants were charged, it was revealed in November last year that one of the initial six suspects, 28-year-old Luis La Cruz had died while in Police custody on November 29, 2024.
He reportedly succumbed to a gunshot wound to the abdomen, which he sustained during the altercation at Stabroek Market.
His death has raised questions, as he was allegedly removed from the hospital while injured and placed in Police lock-ups.
The Police have yet to provide further details on his death.
Family members of Luis La Cruz have since denied his involvement in the attack, suggesting he was caught up in the chaos.
Police have not yet issued a statement addressing the allegations, or provided clarification on his role in the incident.
The other accused – Victoria La Cruz, Campose, Valasquez, and Herrea – are expected to return to court next month, as investigations continue.