Latest update February 5th, 2025 11:03 AM
Teen to face judge, jury for hotelier’s murder
Nineteen-year-old Brian Leitch, also known as ‘Big Foot,’ has been committed to stand trial in the High Court, for the murder of South Central Hotel’s proprietor who was found dead in one of his guest rooms four months ago.
Dead: Joseph Jagdeo
The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the hotelier’s death ended yesterday, as Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry informed the teen that the Prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case of murder against him and as such he will be facing a judge and jury for trial.
Leitch, a resident of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was indicted on December 2, last year for the murder of 62-year-old Joseph ‘Joey’ Jagdeo whose motionless body was reportedly discovered on November 14, bound with a pillowcase and lying under a bed.
The day before, Leitch and a female companion had reportedly rented a room in the guest house.
During his stay, the hotelier had misplaced his cellular phone and purportedly confronted his assailant who became annoyed at the allegations of the hotel owner.
It was previously reported that Jagdeo was last seen in his dwelling room, and his employees who had not seen him since about 17:30 hours the previous day, became concerned about his whereabouts
On November 14, the guest house’s female caretaker reportedly went to clean his room but found it locked, so she forced her way in and was greeted with the body of her employer; bound and lying under the bed.
Jagdeo’s cause of death was given as asphyxia due to manual strangulation.
The matter was reported and the police claim to have discovered that Jagdeo’s cellular phone was missing.
Investigators then reportedly used a tracking device to recover the cellular phone from a female (no name provided) who admitted she had purchased the device from the accused.
After fruitlessly chasing after Leitch, wanted bulletins were issued for him.
He subsequently turned himself in on November 30, last and was arraigned on December 2, appearing before the Chief Magistrate at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the capital offence.
The PI got underway on February 25, last, and the Prosecution which was led by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru, attached to the Chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions, brought eighteen witnesses to testify on behalf of the State.
When called to lead a defence, Leitch, who did not solicit a lawyer, received advice from Attorney George Thomas who was asked to appear amicus curiae on his behalf. When provided with his three options, the teen opted to remain silent.
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