Son of murder accused charged with being accessory to crime

Mar 05, 2016 News

Three months after Alan Sim Sr. was charged with the murder of his reputed wife, Melissa Skeete, his son,

Alan Sim Snr.

Alan Sim Jnr. was yesterday arraigned before a city Magistrate accused of being an accessory to the crime.
It is alleged that between November 23 and November 25, last, at Georgetown, Alan Sim Jr., received, comforted, maintained and relieved his father, Alan Sim Snr., after he murdered Skeete of 94 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until April 1, by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
Alan Sim Sr., 55, of Lot 860 Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara was charged last year for allegedly killing Skeete on November 23,2015 at Georgetown. He is currently on remand for this offence.
It was reported that Skeete, a former Dispatcher at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was stabbed multiple times about her body by Alan Sim Sr.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre.
According to reports, the woman left work on the day in question, in her lover’s car PRR 6841. It was reported that after the stabbing, Alan Sim Sr. kicked the injured woman out of his car on Carmichael Street, Georgetown in broad daylight.
Skeete was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by a man who saw her lying on the road in blood. She succumbed while receiving medical attention. Two days after the fatality, Alan Sim Sr. surrendered to police in the company of his Attorney, Patrice Henry.
Police Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Stephen Telford, told the court that after Alan

MURDERED: Melissa Skeete

Sim Sr. murdered the woman he contacted his son to clean blood stains from a motorcar.
He said that the accused subsequently collected the vehicle from Diamond, East Bank Demerara and took it into an East Coast Demerara wash bay, where he removed the blood stains and number plate from the vehicle.
Telford said that after police investigations were completed, the accused was arrested and charged with murder.
The Prosecutor informed the court that he was advised that after Alan Sim Jr. was arrested he made oral statements in relation to his involvement in the crime.
Telford objected to the man being granted pre trial liberty. He stated that police had a difficult time locating the accused after the crime. He explained that Alan Sim Jr. made several attempts to escape from police but they were foiled.
ASP Telford also pointed out the seriousness of the offence and argued that the accused would not return to court should bail be granted.
However, Attorney Patrice Henry who is also representing Alan Sim Jr. made an application for his client to be released on his own recognizance (self bail). Henry told the court that his client made no confession and accused the police of fabricating the statement.
Attorney Henry stated that his client made no attempts to escape from police. In fact, Henry said that he would from time to time accompany Alan Sim Jnr. to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary. He explained that the visits to CID were in relation to the motorcar police had impounded. The lawyer added that he is certain that his client will be vindicated on the charge because there is no evidence against him.
Thereafter, Prosecutor Telford indicated that he was ready to commence a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the matter. He said that the file that is being used in the murder charge will also be used in this matter since there is evidence contained within.
According to Telford, advice was sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before the institution of the charge.