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Two years later…. Biker’s murder PI still to be reopened
- main witness still being persuaded to testify
Murder Suspect Rondy Jagdeo (left) and the victim Kurt Davis in happier times.
Tomorrow marks the second anniversary since biker mechanic, Kurt Davis, was shot dead outside his Eccles, East Bank Demerara home.
Today, his relatives are not too happy that the man who is accused of killing him is still to be brought to justice.
On March 20, last year, Rondy Jagdeo, a Water Street businessman, walked out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court a free man, after the murder charge against him was discharged by the then Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry.
The discharge was on the grounds that two key witnesses had failed to show up for the Preliminary Inquiry, resulting in a prima facie case not being made out against the accused.
This was six months after Davis had about 16 bullets pumped into his body at close range.
Following the shooting, Jagdeo had fled the jurisdiction to avoid arrest and local police were forced to solicit the help of their Surinamese counterparts with a view to having him brought back to Guyana.
This was after a wanted bulletin was issued for his arrest.
A few weeks later Jagdeo turned himself in and was promptly charged.
Five months later images of a hooded Jagdeo jumping on to a racing style motorcycle outside the Georgetown magistrate’s court and riding off were featured in most of the local media.
Relatives had expressed utter disappointment in the Guyana Police Force, blaming them for sloppy investigations, leading to the Preliminary Inquiry into Davis’ murder being discharged.
“I understand the court’s position, since there were constant no shows by witnesses, but at some point in time the police were in contact with these witnesses.
“What happened to a witness protection system? Why weren’t provisions made for them?”
“Here it is that a man walks free because these witnesses, in fear, may have left the country. Now a mother is without a son and a son without a father because of a sloppy system.”
Kaieteur News understands that the two key witnesses are Nalifa Dookie and Rondel Marks, who relatives say are still around and available to testify.
“The system has enough resources to achieve things, but it’s slackness and laziness all around. No effort was placed into this case.”
Two weeks after the matter was discharged, Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, had initiated steps to reopen the case.
The DPP had signed a letter in which she requested that the presiding Magistrate produce all the depositions that were taken during the Preliminary Inquiry into the murder.
“I will look at them and once all of the witnesses who gave statements to the police did not testify, I can advise that the Magistrate reopen the case, just like what was done in the Carlyle Barton matter,” the DPP told this newspaper.
Yesterday, Davis’s relatives lamented the fact that since the DPP’s move, there appears to be no urgency on the part of the police to secure the witnesses testimony.
One of the witnesses, Dookie, who is said to be the former partner of Jagdeo, has reportedly left the jurisdiction and police have almost ruled out any possibility of her testifying in the matter.
But Marks, who is also said to be an eyewitness to the murder, is still around.
“The witnesses are around. We have seen the witnesses,” a relative told Kaieteur News yesterday.
The relative said that they have been in constant contact with the police, but they get the impression that the investigators are not too keen to proceed with the matter.
However, a top police official dismissed this perception.
The official said that they have been in contact with one of the witness with a view to getting him to testify.
“For the past two months we have been in contact with him. We have not shelved this matter. It’s just a matter of persuading the witnesses to feel comfortable to testify,” the official explained.
Should the witness agree to testify, the police will certainly re-arrest Jagdeo and reopen the Preliminary Inquiry, the official assured.
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