Two remanded for Soesdyke Junction murder

Jul 22, 2023 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Kaieteur News – Two men, 23-year-old Jose Iguardo of Latchman Sand Road, Soesdyke and 53-year-old Alexi Ponce of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) were on Thursday remanded to prison after being charged with murder committed on Yoel Valenzuela which occurred in the vicinity of the Soesdyke Junction, EBD.

Remanded, Jose Iguardo

Remanded, Alexi Ponce

Iguardo and Ponce made their first court appearance on Thursday at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Judy Latchman where the charge was read to them.

The defendants were not required to plead to the charge which alleges that on July 16, 2023, they murdered Valenzula, a 40-year-old labourer of Timehri, EBD. The men were remanded to prison and are expected to return to court on August 23, 2023.

Kaieteur News had reported that Valenzuela was found brutally murdered at the Soesdyke Junction after a bar fight last Sunday.

Valenzuela’s body was reportedly found around 05:30hrs that day by a man who went to urinate at the Junction.

Police were notified and crime scene investigators were sent to the location. Upon arrival at the scene, they noted that Valenzuela’s body bore a wound above the left ear and another to his back. Blood stains were also seen at the crime scene.

An investigation was launched which led to the arrest of a suspect. Police learnt that Valenzuela was killed by three men around 04:30 hrs that day following an altercation at a bar.

Investigators at the crime scene where Valenzuela’s body was found.

Valenzuela, his 17-year-old son John Valenzuela, and two other relatives, John and Ameria Campo ages 21 and 34 respectively had gone to a bar around 20:00hrs on Saturday night. They reportedly began drinking and one of the suspects who is acquainted with Valenzuela approached him and began arguing with him over a grievance they had.

Valenzuela’s son reportedly intervened in the argument and allegedly cuffed the suspect to his mouth. It escalated into a bar fight with the suspect and his friends attacking Valenzuela and his relatives.

Eyewitnesses recalled that the victim and his relatives retreated from the fight by running from their attackers.

“Yoel Valenzuela ran south of Soesdyke Public Road and turned up the Soesdyke Linden Highway…while John Valenzuela, Ameria and John Campo ran further south along Soesdyke Public Road,” Police stated.

Valenzuela’s alleged killers and their friends allegedly chased after him and his relatives. Hours later Valenzuela was found dead at the Soesdyke Junction. Subsequently an investigation was launched into the matter.

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bar fight, charged, muder, Soesdyke Junction, suspects, Yoel Valenzuela

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