Teen slapped with murder charge for Mocha fatal shooting

A 19-year-old labourer has been remanded to prison in connection with the fatal shooting of Mocha businesswoman Desiree Hyman, who was gunned down during an apparent robbery at her boutique at the East Bank Demerara (EBD) last month.
Joshua Roach, of North East La Penitence Squatting Area, Georgetown, was arrested on August 19 and charged on Thursday with murder, contrary to Section 100(1)(c)(i) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. He appeared before Senior Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read.
Roach was not required to enter a plea and was remanded to prison. The case will continue on October 14.
Roach has been linked to the murder of 51-year-old Desiree Hyman, a mother of six and long-time clothes vendor, who was shot and killed at her shop at Lot 297, First Street, Mocha, on 19 July, at around 14:30h. Investigators said that Hyman was confronted by two masked men arriving on a motorcycle, one of whom was armed with a handgun. Police believe the suspects attempted to rob Hyman during the encounter.

During the attack, Hyman resisted, and one of the assailants fired at her multiple times. She sustained six gunshot wounds – three to the left lower abdomen, two to the right side, and one lodged beneath her right breast. Emergency Medical Technicians from the Eccles Fire Station responded to the scene, and a doctor from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation pronounced her dead at about 16:40h on the day of the shooting.
Police later recovered two 9mm spent shells and one suspected projectile about three feet from her body. CCTV footage from cameras in the area was collected and reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
Hyman had been operating her boutique for several years and was well-regarded in the community. Residents described her as hard-working, generous, and dedicated to providing for her family. This incident followed a robbery on the same street just two weeks prior, which fortunately ended without casualties.
Following the murder, Police conducted an intelligence-led operation on July 20, which led to the arrest of a 42-year-old taxi driver from Paradise, East Coast Demerara. Acting on information, detectives made contact with the suspect on Dennis Street, Sophia, and informed him that he was wanted in connection with Hyman’s murder. While he denied involvement, he was taken into custody at Providence Police Station. However, the status of that aspect of the investigation was not revealed by Police.