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Former murder accused remanded over shooting security guard, armed robberies
Former murder accused, Kevin France has found himself before the courts again.
Former Murder Accused: Kevin France
The 27-year-old man was yesterday remanded to prison on charges of attempted murder and robbery under-arms when he made an appearance before Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
France of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown was not required to plead to the indictable allegations.
Particulars of the first charge alleged that on October 28, 2016 at Water Street, Georgetown, France unlawfully and maliciously wounded Quacy Joseph, with intent to murder him.
According to reports, Joseph was an on-duty security guard at Fogarty’s building, Water Street, Georgetown, when he was shot by a fleeing bandit after a robbery within the Electronic City store.
It is also alleged that on October 12, 2016 at Church Street, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Bibi Jahbar of $6,000 cash.
Further, France is also accused of robbing Roopnarine Budhoo of $800,000 while he was armed with a gun and in the company of others on October 1, 2016, at Robb and Alexander Streets, Georgetown.
During a bail petition, attorney Patrice Henry asked that his client be released on reasonable
Murder Accused: Jason Howard
bail.
The lawyer told the court that his client was arrested since Valentine’s Day. Henry disclosed that police arrested France and told him of an allegation in relation to a robbery committed on the East Coast of Demerara.
However, Henry revealed that after realizing that they did not have sufficient evidence to charge his client, police detained the accused for an additional 72 hours.
In relation to the robbery under-arms charges, the lawyer contended that his client was never placed on an identification parade nor did he provide detectives with a confession statement.
Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, opposed bail for France, citing there is a likelihood he might not return to court.
According to the prosecutor, another person, who is currently on remanded for the same three charges, implicated France in the crimes, in a statement to detectives.
Kaieteur News was able to confirm that Jason Howard also known as ‘Smelly’ was charged earlier this year with the offences. Howard and three other men are also on remand for the murders of Mohamed Munir and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir, the rice farming couple who were burnt to death in their Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo home on April 17, 2016 by bandits.
Additionally, Prosecutor Mangru disclosed that advice is being sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as it relates to using Howard as a state witness
France will make another court appearance on March 20, when the preliminary inquiry into the attempt murder charge is scheduled to being. Also, Prosecutor Mangru will report on whether the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) will be applied to robbery under-arms charges, which will allow the accused to plea.
In August 2015, France had a murder charge discharged against him in the Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate Judy Latchman. He was at the time accused of killing Bharrat Ramcharran, a salesman attached to Patsan Trading Services.
According to reports, bandits on a CG motorcycle gunned down 57-year-old Ramcharran outside the business place, before escaping with a bag of money, on April 24, 2014.
Ramcharran of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara was shot in the back after he threw a bag of money over the gate of the John Smith Street, Campbellville premises to prevent the bandits from making off with the cash. The salesman was later rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Randolph Marques, 20, was however, committed to stand trial at the High Court for this same murder.
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