One of the suspects in last Saturday’s gruesome murder of two men during a home invasion in Linden was on Thursday charged and remanded to prison.
Shadwin Semple appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that he murdered Johnson Bowen, 87, and Manuel Dos Santos, 58, during a home invasion of their Block 42, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) home on May 13.
Murder accused Shadwin Semple
The accused has been remanded to prison until June 8, and the matter has been transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court.
Police instituted the charge against Semple after receiving advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
It is believed that Semple, along with others, is linked to the deadly home invasion that resulted in the tragic death of Bowen and Dos Santos, while Denzil Roberts sustained severe injuries and remains hospitalised.
According to reports, the family fell prey to armed bandits wearing black masks during the terrifying incident. Dos Santos’s wife provided a harrowing account, recalling being abruptly awakened by disturbing sounds emanating from the living room.
Rushing to investigate, she was confronted with the distressing sight of her elderly father being forcibly handled by the intruders, while one of her sons lay defenceless on the floor.
Showing remarkable courage, Roberts, Dos Santos’s nephew, a resident of the neighbourhood, swiftly responded to the commotion, rushing to the aid of his family members. Against all odds, he managed to overpower one of the attackers, while Manuel Dos Santos and Valdeir Dos Santos, Manuel’s son, armed themselves with cutlasses and fearlessly confronted the remaining assailants.
A fierce struggle ensued, resulting in serious injuries being inflicted upon the suspects. The situation rapidly spiralled into a chaotic bloodbath as the invaders resorted to indiscriminate gunfire, plunging the scene into panic and chaos. Tragically, the lifeless bodies of Manuel Dos Santos and Bowen were later discovered.
The day after the incident, wanted bulletins were issued for John Ross and Troy Bruce, both residents of Linden, as the Police intensify their efforts to bring all involved parties to justice.
Thirty-year-old Bruce, known as ‘Blacka’, a resident of Lot 26 Wismar Hill, Linden, turned himself in on Tuesday. Ross is still on the run, and his last known address is Five Corner, Linden.
Meanwhile, the suspected bandit who was found dead with multiple chop wounds has been identified as Anthony Dennis. He was found at a residence at Block 22 Wismar, Linden.
It has been revealed that one of the suspected gang members had previously faced charges related to a series of armed robberies in the Soesdyke/Linden area and in other locations. Ranks from the Guyana Police Force’s Major Crimes Investigations Unit are continuing investigations.
