Extradition proceedings for US murder suspect ….. Defence claims officer had no arrest warrant

Mar 24, 2018 News

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The extradition proceedings for Troy Anthony Thomas, who is wanted in the U.S for murder, commenced yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.
Yesterday, the Magistrate listened to arguments on behalf of the Government of Guyana and the United States.
Troy, who is on remand, is being represented by Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes, Bernard DaSilva and Darren Wade. Attorney-at-law Stacy Gooding is representing the Government of United States. The Courtroom was filled with family and friends of the accused.
Yesterday, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eon Alonzo, who is stationed at Criminal Investigation Department (CID), went into the witness box to tell the court the role he played in the arrest of the fugitive.
The witness told the court that on March 14, last, he along with a party of police officers were given instruction by Crime Chief Paul Williams to go at an address in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown and arrest the accused.
The witness said that on the day in question, about 02:05 hrs he received information about an arrest warrant for the accused. He and a party of policemen went to Lot 34 Second Street, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
He added that on arrival at the address, he observed a fenced yard with two houses. The ranks then entered the northern gate, which was open and proceeded to the house at the eastern side of the yard.
The ranks then went to the top flat and knocked on the door and a female whom he later found out her name to be Lolita Callendar, opened the door.
He then identified himself to the woman by showing her his police identification card and telling her that he received information that they may be a wanted person in the apartment.
Based on what Callendar told the police, they proceeded to search the apartment. Upon entering the bedroom, where the lights were on, he saw the accused standing in the room dressed in a T-shirt and underpants.
The witness added that he immediately recognised the accused because he fitted the description of a mug shot profile picture that he had in his possession.
He then arrested the accused and asked him his name. The fugitive said that his name is Marvin Williams.
The witness said that he asked him for proof of identification and the accused said he was not in possession of any such documents.
The officer said that he then continued to search the room but did not find anything of evidential value.
The accused was then escorted to CID along with his female companion. The witness said upon arrival at CID, he asked the accused for a second time if he had any proof of identification in form of identification card, passport or any documentation to which he replied no and he was placed in custody.
Alonzo was subjected to cross-examination by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes. The witness when asked by the lawyer if he or any other rank had an arrest warrant in their possession on the day his client was arrested, replied in the negative.
He further told the lawyer that he was instructed by Crime Chief, Paul Williams to arrest the accused.
The lawyer then asked the witness if prior to March 14, if he was aware that the Guyana Police Force had a wanted bulletin out for his client and he answered in the negative.
The matter was then adjourned until March 26 for continuation of arguments.
Thomas, who told police he had been living in Guyana for some eight years, was held on March 14, after police swooped down on a house at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Police say that Thomas, who resided overseas at 32nd Street, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S.A, fled to Guyana after allegedly gunning down another Guyanese, 20-year-old Keith Frank, in Queens, New York, seven years ago.
It was disclosed that the operation to apprehend Thomas had started since January.
Thomas reportedly fled to Guyana shortly after an arrest warrant was issued for him in the U.S. for the murder of Frank, who was slain on December 11, 2011.
Frank succumbed to a bullet wound to the torso, allegedly during a confrontation with Thomas and others.
The victim, whose daughter was eight months old at the time, died two months before he would have celebrated his twenty-first birthday.
He had reportedly been living in the U.S. since he was 12.
Reports in U.S. media stated that the killing occurred outside a South Richmond Hill party.
Frank’s mother, Carol Kyte, was quoted as saying that her son was attending a birthday party near 132nd Street and 109th Avenue and ran into some other men with whom he had an ongoing dispute.
It is alleged that a group of other Guyanese men were at odds with one of Frank’s friends over sophomoric quibbles like break-dancing or the attention of girls in the neighbourhood.
During his first court appearance, Thomas denied ever being charged in the U.S for murder. On that occasion, Gooding had opposed bail being granted to Thomas, after citing the serious nature of the offence and the fact that he poses a risk of flight.
The lawyer also disclosed that there are no records at the Central Immigration Office to support that Thomas had entered Guyana.

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