Two men convicted for murder of vendor during armed robbery

Justice has finally been served for Troy Ramalho, the cheese and sausage vendor who was brutally murdered at Bourda Market, Georgetown, in 2018. On Friday, a jury convicted Akeem Morris, known as “Dig Out,” and Roy Sandiford, of murder in furtherance of a robbery, delivering unanimous guilty verdicts after nearly five hours of deliberation.

The courtroom remained tense as the verdict was read, with family members of the slain vendor visibly emotional. The conviction marked the end of a trial that had seen intense arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, as well as shocking revelations about the events of that fateful night.
On August 15, 2018, at approximately 23:05h, Ramalho had just finished his nightly business at Bourda Market when he was attacked. He had been wrapping up his sales for the night, dressed in his usual work attire, and wearing three gold rings, along with three chains wrapped around his arm.
According to eyewitness accounts and evidence presented during the trial, Sandiford, armed with a firearm, approached Ramalho’s stall and ordered him not to move. Without hesitation, he fired a single gunshot that struck Ramalho in the chest, causing him to collapse instantly.

As the vendor lay bleeding, Morris reportedly rushed over, removed the jewellery from his body, and quickly fled the scene along with Sandiford and their accomplice, Nya John. They disappeared into a waiting getaway car driven by George Paton, which had been strategically parked a short distance away.
A post-mortem examination conducted on Ramalho’s body two days later by forensic pathologist Dr Nehaul P. Singh, confirmed that Ramalho had died from haemorrhage and shock caused by a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The bullet had entered the left side of his chest, approximately eight centimetres (cm) from his armpit, before tearing through his left lung, and then passing through his right lung. It eventually lodged between his second and third ribs, where investigators later recovered a metal object, believed to be the fatal bullet.
There was no evidence of close-range firing, as no gunpowder residue or soot was found on the body.
Following the murder, police launched an aggressive investigation, which quickly led them to the suspects.
Morris was the first to be arrested on August 26, 2018, and was later placed in an identification parade where an eyewitness positively identified him as one of the men involved in the robbery.
Sandiford was taken into custody a few days later, on September 1, 2018, and was also identified in a police lineup.
During the trial, which began on January 22, 2025, the prosecution, led by State Counsel Christopher Belfield and Muntaz Ali, relied heavily on surveillance footage that captured Morris and Sandiford approaching Ramalho’s stall before the attack and running away moments later.
Witness testimonies also played a critical role in painting a clear picture of what had transpired that night.
The defence however, attempted to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case. Morris, through his attorney Kishwana Jefford, argued that the identification parade was unfair, and claimed Morris was home with his one-year-old daughter at the time of the murder.
The attorney also pointed out that Morris had previously been arrested in February 2018 for another murder but was never charged, suggesting that he was being unfairly targeted.
Sandiford, represented by attorney Dexter Todd, also challenged the identification process and claimed he was being framed by an eyewitness due to a past conflict.
He further attempted to establish an alibi, presenting two witnesses who claimed he had been at a Superbet Shop in Albouystown, Georgetown when the murder occurred.
However, under cross-examination, the defence arguments appeared to crumble.
Sandiford’s supposed alibi witnesses struggled to recall key details and admitted that they had never provided this information to the police nor was it ever presented in the Magistrate’s court.
Their sudden appearance during the trial raised suspicions about the credibility of their statements. Furthermore, prosecutors highlighted that the police had initially received information from one of the accused, who had implicated both Morris and Sandiford in the robbery and murder.
After a gripping trial, the jury returned with unanimous guilty verdicts for both men.
They now await sentencing, which is scheduled for March 5, 2025, where they could face severe penalties under the law.