Submissions made by defence counsel Nigel Hughes regarding the unreliability and inconsistency of evidence produced against his client, Shaquille Grant, during the trial of the murder of Andre “Bread Man” Alexander proved successful as Grant on Monday exited the courtroom of Justice Navindra Singh a free man.
Acquitted of murder charge: Shaquille Grant, aka “Soldier Man”Deceased: Andre Alexander, called “Bread Man”
Justice Singh had heard the submissions made last Friday, and as such, ruled on the voir dire (an investigation into the truth or admissibility of evidence held during a trial) by directing the 12-member jury to return a formal not-guilty verdict in favour of Grant, , called “Soldier Man”, automatically setting him free of the capital offence.
As Grant made his way out of the courtroom, overjoyed family members rushed to embrace him after days of anxiously waiting for a verdict to be delivered. Meanwhile, the number two accused, Neville Ford is expected to have his fate determined today as his attorney, Adrian Thompson and State Prosecutors made their respective addresses to the 12-member jury during Monday’s court hearing.
Ford, in an unsworn statement to the court, maintained his innocence of the crime, stating “I am innocent of this charge; I was not at the scene … I don’t know anything about “Bread Man”’s murder.”
Both Grant and Ford pleaded not guilty to the capital offence of murder at their first court appearance, as the indictment read that on May 5, 2017 in the county of Demerara, they murdered Alexander in the course of or furtherance of a robbery.
The State’s case is being led by Prosecutor Teriq Mohammed, in association with Sarah Martin and Tuanna Hardy.
Guyana Times had previously reported that on the day in question, Alexander, of Lot 394 C Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown and his wife were at their bread stand when two men on a CG motorcycle rode up and ordered three loaves of bread, paying with a $5000 note.
The now dead man was reportedly in the process of making change when the pillion rider whipped out a gun and demanded that the father of two hand over his cash.
Alexander reportedly put up a fight and in retaliation, the suspect discharged two rounds, one of which struck the vendor to the chest.
The bandits then relieved the injured man of an undisclosed sum of cash and bread before making good their escape.
Residents rushed to the scene and found the man lying in a pool of blood. He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.
