Matthew Parks, 24, of Lot 214 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, was moments ago committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of a man during a brawl over a pack of cigarettes.
Parks was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on September 13, 2018, at Durban and Chapel Streets, Lodge, he murdered 23-year-old, Roger Alleyne, a Guyana Water Inc (GWI) employee.
This afternoon when the matter was called, Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty ruled that having considered the prosecution’s evidence, the court is of the opinion that a sufficient case had been made out against the defendant. Hence, he was committed to stand trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
The incident in question occurred around 17:00 hrs at a mini-mart located on D’Urban and Chappel Streets, Lodge.
It was reported that Alleyne of D’Urban Street, Lodge was stabbed twice to the chest and died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while undergoing surgery.
The defendant, who worked at the supermarket, was treated at GPHC having suffered minor injuries.
According to information received, the deceased went to the supermarket to purchase a pack of cigarettes when he and the Alleyne got into an argument.
It was reported that the security guard at the establishment asked Alleyne to leave the premises.
However, around 17:00 hrs that same evening, Allen returned to the mini-mart just as Parks was preparing to assist his colleague to close the business place for the day.
Eyewitnesses alleged that it was the deceased who attacked Parks with a knife and bottle. Parks, however, managed to overpower his attacker and stabbed him twice.
Residents in the area intervened and both men were taken to the GPHC for medical attention where Alleyne succumbed.
