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‘Big Foot’ denies killing hotelier
MURDERED Hotelier: Joseph Jagdeo
A former Diamond, East Bank Demerara resident accused of killing Joseph Jagdeo, the proprietor of South Central Hotel, Georgetown, has denied the killing, asserting at his trial yesterday, “I don’t know anything about any murder. I did not kill anyone.” The murder accused, Bryan Leitch, also called ‘Big Foot’ made these assertions during an unsworn testimony before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member mixed jury.
The indictment against Leitch alleges that between November 13 and November 14, 2013, at the above mentioned hotel, he murdered Jagdeo called ‘Joey’. Leitch, who has retained Attorneys-at-law Hewley Griffith and Lawrence Harris, has pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment brought against him by State Prosecutors Mandel Moore and Lisa Cave.
Standing in the prisoners’ dock, Leitch related his story to the court.
Based on information, on November 13, 2013 Leitch and a female companion had rented a room at the hotel.
During that time Jagdeo misplaced his cellular phone and had confronted Leitch. After Jagdeo’s employees did not see him the following day, they became concerned about his whereabouts and forced their way into his room where they were greeted by his motionless body. Police ranks were later summoned to the scene and Leitch was later arrested and charged for the killing. Prior to Leitch’s testimony, Former Police Constable Miguel Charles testified to visiting the hotel where he captured 17 photographic exposures of the building and Jagdeo’s lifeless body.
Those 17 photographs were tendered and admitted as exhibits in the trial. During cross examination by Harris, the former police constable recalled that other ranks were at the scene when he arrived at around 08:30hrs on November 14, 2013. Also testifying was Kiana Garnett, who told the court that she is a friend of Leitch.
Garnett recalled that on November 13, 2013 around 09:30hrs, she and her friend Shauntel De Younge were going to purchase a Chinese food when they saw Leitch on the road. Garnett said that Leitch inquired from them if they wanted a phone and “Shauntel replied yes.”
According to the witness, Leitch sold De Younge a small silver Nokia cell phone for $4,000 and told her not to answer it when anyone calls. After Garnett’s testimony, the prosecutors closed its case and closing submissions were presented by them and the defence.
Justice Kissoon is expected to surmise the evidence in the trial this morning and direct the jurors who will thereafter be sent for deliberation on a verdict.
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