Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 08, 2015 News
Just after lunch yesterday afternoon loud cries of innocence could’ve been heard throughout the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court as 37-year-old Regan Rodrigues also known as ‘Grey Boy’ made his first appearance to answer to the charge of murder of slain political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing.
Clad in an American Eagle T-Shirt, three-quarter pants and slippers, the defendant after leaving the holding cell to make his way to the courtroom kept reiterating, “I just want his (Courtney’s) family to know I’m not a killer… I did not kill anyone is (name of a police officer) and (another named individual) kill him.”
The unrepresented accused, a father of three, kept smiling and nodding his head repeating the words, “Yes Father” as Magistrate Fabayo Azore read the charge to him.
It is alleged that on March 10, 2015, at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Courtney Crum-Ewing.
Even though the defendant was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge, he asked the magistrate for “a few seconds to hear me out”.
Rodrigues told the court that he currently resides at Ruimveldt sea dam, and his occupation varies, since he leaves the country frequently to travel to neighbouring Suriname, but while in Guyana he would engage in mining.
He further told the court that, “I know that in this country once money passes to the police they do respond to you… I am an APNU stronghold.” “I know (police officer) kill Crum-Ewing, because when they ask me to kill Crum-Ewing and Mark Benschop, I told them no, because I’m not no killer. I even went to the police to make a report on the matter and they never took my statement,” Rodrigues said.
He again repeated the names of the two persons he insists killed Crum-Ewing.
The Magistrate eventually got him to settle down by informing him that he was being remanded until August 21 where he will make his next appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Meanwhile outside the Court room, while leaving the prisoners holding cell to board the van to take him to the Camp Street Prison, Rodrigues used the opportunity to speak to the media.
He told reporters that he will continue to maintain his innocence since he was not the killer of Crum-Ewing, and that the two persons he had named in the court were the men behind the gruesome killing.
A woman who claimed to be his spouse, but asked to remain anonymous, also took the chance to speak to Kaieteur News. She said, “No one was home at the time when the police conducted the search on the premises when they found the alleged gun.”
She added that when ‘Grey Boy’ learnt that the police were looking for him, he went to the station to enquire as to why, and he was arrested and charged.
Political Activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing, well known for his one-man protests, was shot dead on March 10 last at Third Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), while urging residents to vote against the then ruling party.
The 40-year-old Crum-Ewing of Golden Grove, EBD, was shot five times.
Police in a statement had said that Crum-Ewing was walking along the roadway at Third Avenue when a car with four men drove up from which shots were discharged at him, “after which the men escaped.”
In recent times, Crime Chief Leslie James made revelations with much confidence that they had a suspect in custody for the death of the slain activist. The person’s identity was not revealed for some time since the Guyana Police Force maintained that it was an ongoing investigation.
Police had said that they got a lucky break after arresting an individual who was in possession of a .32 pistol. The firearm reportedly turned out to be the same weapon that was used to kill Crum-Ewing.
They later detained Rajput Narine, a former CANU officer and ex-bodyguard of former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, for questioning, but soon released him.
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