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Prosecution to call six witnesses in robbery, wounding of undercover cop
The trial involving Justin Austin, Keston Duke and Michael Shepherd – the three men accused of stabbing and robbing a police officer that was on undercover duties at a night club – is scheduled to begin in May at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Michael Shepherd
Shepherd, the number three accused, yesterday answered the joint charges, all of which he denied.
The first charge alleged that Shepherd, while in company of others, on December 15, 2018, at Lot 92 Second Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, and armed with a gun, robbed Julius Bowling of one gold chain valued $20,000 and a .38 pistol with six matching rounds of ammunition valued $125,000, property of the Guyana Police Force.
Also, it was alleged that, on the same date and at the same location, the accused wounded Julius Bowling.
When the matter was first called, the men were not required to plead to the offence as the police prosecutor asked that the Administrative Justice Act (AJA) not be applied because the charges were made up individually, and should be made up jointly for the three accused. As a result the matters were adjourned on the separate occasions until the police prepared themselves.
Justin Austin
Shepherd’s alleged accomplices, Duke and Austin, are still incarcerated to this date as they were unable to post bail. They had appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, and were granted $50,000 bail for each of the charges after pleading not guilty.
Bail was also granted to Shepherd in the sum of $50,000 for each of the charges by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.
Keston Duke
The number one and the number two defendant, Duke and Austin, are represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson, while Attorney Eustace Hunt represented Shepherd.
Yesterday, after an agreement was made for a joint trial to be conducted, police prosecutor Adunni Innis indicated to Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus that the prosecution will be calling six witnesses to testify.
The magistrate then adjourned the matter until May 6, 2019 when the witnesses will be called and the remainder will be dealt with the following day.
According to reports, on the night in question, Julius Bowling who at the time was on undercover duties at Club Aces, was approached by three men. The men disarmed him and took away his gold chain. When the victim resisted, he was stabbed to his head, stomach and hands.
It was noted that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage was obtained from the club. The police were able to later retrieve the stolen gun in a garbage heap after receiving an anonymous call directing them to a location in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
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