Police, Hughes clash over handling of Kenesha Vaughn murder case

A dispute has erupted between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and law firm Hughes Fields and Stoby over the conduct of the prosecution in the ongoing preliminary inquiry into the murder of 25-year-old Kenesha Vaughn.
At the centre of the row is a claim made by Police on Thursday that the case is not being prosecuted by Police and expressed dissatisfaction over repeated delays by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, who was granted a fiat by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecute the matter, has had exclusive conduct of the case since March 17.

Attorney at law, Nigel Hughes

On Friday, Hughes Fields and Stoby law firm issued a statement which said that police failed to comply with a Magistrate’s deadline to submit all evidence to the defence and the court. The firm stated on Friday that Magistrate Judy Latchman had directed that all prosecution evidence be disclosed by May 12, 2025. The firm contended that despite this order being communicated to the DPP’s Chambers on April 30, the police failed to provide all the required material and continued submitting additional statements up to June 26, well beyond the court-imposed deadline.

“Erroneous”
However, the GPF has rejected Hughes’ assertion, describing it as “erroneous” and “misleading.”
According to the police, a Senior State Counsel at the DPP’s Chambers confirmed that Hughes’ April 30 request for documents was fulfilled on May 9—three days ahead of the court’s deadline. The GPF accused Hughes of “blatantly attempting to mislead the public” regarding the timeline for disclosure.

Marlon DaSilva and Kenesha Vaughn in happier times

The police further claimed that a member of Hughes’ legal team informed a police witness only Thursday that the case would be adjourned as Hughes himself would not be present, casting doubt, the police said, on the prosecution team’s preparedness. The GPF said that since March 17, 2025, the prosecution has been solely in the hands of Hughes Fields and Stoby, following the issuance of the DPP’s fiat. In light of what it described as “an inability to successfully move the prosecution forward,” the police indicated plans to raise the issue with the DPP and request the revocation of the fiat. “The state of affairs in this capital offence is unacceptable,” the GPF said in a strongly worded statement.

Defending & probe
In response, Hughes Fields and Stoby issued a press release defending its handling of the case. The firm reiterated that it was the sole responsibility of the GPF to investigate the murder and provide all evidence collected during that investigation.
The firm stood by its claim that the police submitted evidence late, asserting that additional witness statements were handed over as recently as June 26, more than six weeks after the Magistrate’s deadline. It also maintained that its legal team has been consistently ready to proceed whenever the matter was called.
“The success of the prosecution of this matter is dependent on whether the police witnesses attend court and testify,” the firm stated, while denying “without reservation” any claims of being unprepared.
The firm said that it will welcome a full investigation into the police’s claims regarding the prosecution’s conduct.
The case involves Marlon Da Silva, who is charged with the murder of Kenesha Vaughn. The matter is still before the courts, and no evidence has yet been led in the preliminary inquiry. DaSilva, who is charged with the brutal killing of his partner Kenesha Vaughn on February 22, 2025