Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Accused alleges death threats from victim’s relatives
An injured Lancaster leaves the courtroom on crutches
Murder accused Louis Lancaster, 35, of Fifth Street, Alberttown, made his second court appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday. Lancaster, along with another assailant who is yet to be identified, is accused of killing ex-policeman Vibert Assanah on October 26, last.
Lancaster was represented by attorney at law Nigel Hughes who asked for a speedy start to the preliminary inquiry. The lawyer told the court that his client was brutally assaulted on November 23 in the Georgetown prisons while the prison guards watched and did nothing.
Lancaster was beaten with “a 2 x 3 plank with nails pointing out” and he sustained multiple fractures. Lancaster, he said, was taken to the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and was later transferred back to the prison infirmary.
Hughes said he visited his client on November 26 at the Georgetown Prisons and Lancaster was unable to walk because of the severity of injures. The lawyer further told the court that he (Lancaster) had to be lifted to the reception area to speak with him.
Nigel Hughes added that despite attempts by Lancaster to give a statement, the prison officers have “blatantly refused to take a statement”.
Hughes further told the court that he had since written to the Director of Prisons and the Commissioner of Police about the treatment that his client has received.
The lawyer added that both Lancaster and his mother, who resides in America, have received “death treats” by family members of the deceased.
He said that while Lancaster was being brought up into the courtroom, relatives were heard issuing death threats to the accused, “saying that he would not be alive for the trial”.
The lawyer said that this is a clear demonstration of the attempt to harm his client and his client’s family. These actions must be taken “seriously”, said Hughes who contended that his client should have the right to “feel free from harm, when he is in the court”.
The lawyer then asked of the court that Lancaster be given extra security and a short date for the preliminary inquiry to begin.
However, Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith told the court that she is not aware of any such threats by the relatives of the deceased. The prosecutor noted that in relation to the “threats which allegedly happened downstairs at the court lockups”, she only heard two women arguing.
Assanah, a former policeman, was killed shortly after 22:00 hrs on Sunday October 26, after he was lured into Bent Street by two men.
The 56-year-old taxi driver was apparently slain after he put up a fight with his attackers. The man was stabbed and he collapsed outside of the car and died shortly afterwards.
The two killers then fled the scene on foot, but one of the men who was reportedly wounded in the attack, was later arrested in Hadfield Street.
The victim’s eldest son, Ray Assanah, had told Kaieteur News that his father worked only at night, owing to the extensive competition during the day. The son said that he had repeatedly expressed concern for his father’s safety.
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