The owner of Rockies International Hotel and his friend, who are jointly accused of conspiring to kill a businessman, were today further remanded to prison and will appear on July 24 for the commencement of their trial.
Mark Grimmond, 57, a hotelier of 320 Grove, Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, and Chatterpaul Singh, 36, a miner of 1 First Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, were charged with the offence on June 13, 2019.
They were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that between April 1, 2018, and June 7, 2019, at Georgetown, they conspired with each other and persons unknown to kill Dwayne Grant.
This morning when the matter was called, Prosecutor Neville Jeffers disclosed the remaining of the statements and told the court the prosecution is ready to proceed with the matter.
The men’s lawyers renewed bail applications on their clients’ behalf but the Chief Magistrate further remanded the men to prison on the grounds that no special reason was highlighted.
According to information, a few months ago the victim, who is a businessman in Lethem, reported to the police that he received information that the defendants were plotting to kill him.
An investigation was then carried out and police went to a hotel where they made contact with Singh. He was then arrested and a firearm was found in his possession.
When questioned, Singh detailed a conversation with the ranks and admitted that he and Grimmond were planning to kill Grant.
Grimmond was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
The prosecutor told the court that officers were able to receive telephone recordings between the defendants and, following advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), they were charged with the offence.
On the men first court appearance the prosecutor strongly objected to bail being granted to the defendants on the grounds of the serious nature of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts. Hence, they have been on remand ever since.
