Crum-Ewing murder PI…Prosecutor’s no-show causes yet another adjournment

May 18, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

When the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing was called yesterday before Magistrate Judy Latchman, Special Prosecutor Nigel Hughes was nowhere to be found.
Magistrate Judy Latchman had to be informed by Police Inspector Eon Jackson, a prosecution witness, that Prosecutor Hughes was engaged in a murder trial at the High Court in Georgetown.
In the circumstances the PI was adjourned again, this time until May 25.
The announcement of another delay in the matter did not do down too well with 33-year-old Regan Rodrigues, also known as ‘Grey Boy’ of Riverview, Ruimveldt. He is currently on remand for the capital offence.
The murder accused repeatedly asked Magistrate Latchman, “I want you tell me if this is fair.” But the Magistrate declined to answer.
Rodrigues still has not retained an Attorney.
According to reports, the bullet-riddled body of Crum-Ewing was found at Third Avenue, Diamond New Scheme East Bank Demerara on March 10, 2015.
The 40-year-old was shot twice to the temple, once to the back of the head and twice to the stomach. The police in a statement had said that the political activist was accosted by four men in a car, one of whom discharged several rounds, hitting him about the body. It was reported that the killer (s) used a .32 pistol to execute Crum-Ewing. Minutes before he was gunned down, he was reportedly heard via bullhorn urging residents.
At the last court hearing (May 11) Inspector Jackson and Assistant Superintendant of Police Mitchell Caesar, both prosecution witnesses were absent. This resulted in the matter being adjourned to yesterday’s date.
At a May 3, court hearing ASP Caesar, who is also the head of the Major Crimes Investigations Unit, had been absent for the continuation of the matter as a result of him being out of the country. ASP Caesar, on April 28, had refused to continue testifying after Rodrigues began hurling a series of abusive remarks at him.
The police witness was instructed by Magistrate Latchman to step outside the courtroom while she and other court officials tried to calm Rodrigues down. But the senior police rank disobeyed the Magistrate’s orders and left the court compound. When the court orderly summoned his name thrice there was no response.
Magistrate Latchman had condemned ASP Caesar for such conduct, deeming it as “not polite,” given the fact that he is of a senior rank.
In 2015, Regan Rodrigues was charged and remanded to prison for the murder of the political activist. However, the charge against him was discharged earlier this year by this same Magistrate, due to insufficient evidence. However, in March the Director of Public Prosecutions ordered that the case be reopened for the further taking of evidence from police witnesses and to rule on the voluntariness of all oral statements made by the murder accused.

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