CPD recommends starting PI for 4 accused murders

Moneychanger, girl deaths

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised that the Preliminary Investigation (PI) begins for four men accused of murdering Better Hope, Demerara East Coast currency exchanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter Silver Latchman. years after one of the accused on remand for the murder escaped from Lusignan Prison.
This came shortly after media reports that the DPP had yet to determine the way forward for the PI to the murders.
In a statement on Saturday, the DPP’s Office said legal advice would be given to the matter on January 29, 2021.
“The Police prosecutor should have sought legal advice from the DPP on the way forward and had not waited for the Magistrate to have advised that the DPP’s advice should be sought,” the statement from the CPD chambers said.
Those charged with the crime are Mark Rufino, 25, a laborer from Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) – the fleeing prison escapee; Paul Chan, 37, of “Long Hair” or “Anthony”, bus conductor at Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Troy Abrams, 44, of “Rasta Man”, seller of Middle Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Lloyd Sadloo, 37, of Mocha Arcadia, EBD; and Sean Thomas, 41, of “Yankee”, an electrician at William Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
This newspaper had previously reported that Rufino escaped from the Holding Bay at Lusignan Prison between October 20 and October 21, 2020.
Following his escape, the Police prosecutor was given a month’s leave to seek advice on how to proceed. This happened during a court hearing in late December 2020.
Magistrate Alisha George, presiding at Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court, had instructed the prosecutor to seek advice in the matter by the end of the week. However, when the matter was called, the prosecutor requested another adjournment.
The lawyers of the other accused murder had called for the mutual escape of the accused to be withdrawn, and for the court to proceed with the PI against the other accused. The matter was adjourned until Monday, February 1, 2021, and the prosecutor was ordered to report the legal advice to the court on that day.
It was reported that Aaron and his 19-year-old daughter had just returned to their Lot 58 Robert Street home, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, on the day of the murder, when they were attacked by armed men.
It is alleged that the men involved held the man and his daughter at gunpoint and took them to the upper apartment of their home, where they demanded money.
After receiving the bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash, the men shot the money changer and his daughter before escaping the scene.
Shortly after the businessman and his daughter were rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.
Sometime later, a motor car belonging to the dead businessman used by the thieves was found at Front Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.
While searching the vehicle, they found an illegal shotgun and several rounds of ammunition. Two of the accused murderers – Abrams and Sadloo – were arrested and put to court. (G9)