Two weeks after Essequibo businessman, Deon Stoll was murdered when gunmen trailed him to the El Dorado Trading, eight persons, including a doctor, were moments ago charged for the crime.
Four of the eight persons were charged with murder, while the others were charged with accessory to murder.
Those charged with murder are Shane Morgan also known as Delon ‘Demon’ Morgan, 33, a graphic artist of East LaPenitence, Georgetown; Roberto Sankar, 28, the owner of Island Bar of 6 Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara; Wayne St Hill, 38, also a graphic artist of Kitty, Georgetown; and Steve Rollox, 32, a taxi driver, of 55 Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara.
The charge against the quartet stated that on October 14, at DaSilva Street, Kitty, Georgetown, while being in the company of each other, they murdered Deon ‘Mow’ Stoll during the course of a robbery.
Those charged with accessory to murder are Odessa St Hill, 37, a graphic artist of Campbellville; Alonzo De Santos, 33, a medical doctor and a left lieutenant in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) of 136 Prospect, East Bank Demerara; Duncan Vanvield, 36, a mechanic of B Field Sophia and Keith Mckenzie, 56, a taxi driver of 103 East LaPenitence, Georgetown.
The charge against the quartet stated that between October 13 and October 23, they, well knowing that Shane Morgan, also known as Delon ‘Demon’ Morgan, and three others, had murdered Deon Stoll, they received and comforted Morgan.
They were not required to plead to the indictable charge after it was read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts.
Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson represented Morgan and Wayne St Hill. In addressing the court, the lawyer stated that Morgan has a puncture wound that the police are claiming is a gunshot wound. He said the wound is in the late stages of healing.
Meanwhile, lawyer Latchmie Rahamat, who is representing Odessa St Hill, in her application for bail, told the court that her client has no knowledge of the crime.
In fact, the lawyer said that police had promised to forgo charges against her client if she agreed to be a state witness.
Lawyer Eusil Anderson, who represented Doctor De Santos, told the court that his client is a medical doctor and second left lieutenant in the Guyana Defence Force( GDF) and has a baby on the way. The lawyer added if bail is granted to his client he will adhere to any conditions “since he has suffered enough.”
He added that his client is ready to save lives on the battlefield and in the hospital.
In relation to Mckenzie, his lawyer Melville Duke, in a failed application for bail, told the court that his client was unable to attend his only daughter’s wedding which was held last Saturday.
The lawyer added this client was at work at the Pretty Posse taxi service when a clean shaved man approached him and asked to be taken to Berbice. The lawyer stressed that his client had no knowledge that Morgan was wanted by the police and that CCTV footage will show what transpired on the day.
After all the defence lawyers finished addressing the court, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers made serious objections to bail being granted to all the defendants on the grounds of the serious nature of the allegation and the penalty the charges attract.
The Prosecutor informed the court that police have video recording of the defendants admitting to the role they played in the crime.
In relation to De Santos, the court heard that he admitted to comforting and assisting Morgan who suffered gunshot injuries. He also admitted to being taken from his home by Vanderville to a house at Sophia where he treated Morgan.
The Chief Magistrate, after listening to both sides, remanded the defendants to prison until November 15.
According to information, on the day in question, the businessman was going to sell raw gold at El Dorado Trading when gunmen attacked him and his driver.
Surveillance footage shows the businessman’s car driving on Da Silva Street—heading towards the gold dealership with the gunmen’s car tailing closely behind.
Just as Stoll’s driver drove onto a parking spot in front of the company, the suspects stopped behind and two gunmen jumped out of their vehicle and ran to both doors. The gunmen immediately opened fire.
Stoll was seen on surveillance footage opening fire on the suspects while his driver tried to wrestle one of the men. It is unclear if the men carted off with any valuables from the victims.
The victims were immediately rushed to the hospital where Stoll passed away.
