A carpenter was remanded by two Magistrates today, after being charged with the murder of a Lance corporal and his girlfriend and another matter.
Koabe Grant, of Sophia, East Coast Demerara, was arraigned before Magistrate Roschelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with the murder of Shanika Forde and Daniel Fraser a Lance Corporal of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
The offense was committed on September 1, 2021, at B’ Field Sophia, on the East Coast Demerara (ECD). The matter was adjourned until September 30.
Fraser and Forde were shot dead at 23:30hrs in ‘B’ Field Sophia, on the East Coast Demerara (ECD). A senior police source said the Grant was arrested based on information received which stated that he had threatened to kill Forde after he found out that she was in a relationship with Fraser. The Guyana Standard understands that Grant and Forde shared an intimate relationship in the past and she bore him a child, who is currently residing in Barbados. However, a close relative of Fraser told this publication that Fraser and Forde shared a long-distance relationship for the past year after they met online.
The relative further added that Forde who was Guyanese by birth, resided in Barbados and returned to Guyana recently to take care of several documents.
Meanwhile, a police report stated that Fraser of lot 598 A Field Sophia and Forde who was staying at her friend’s place at lot 633 South Sophia shared an intimate relationship for about two weeks. The report further stated that earlier on the night of the tragedy, Fraser, and Forde were at a shop at C Field Sophia imbibing alcohol. At around 11:30hrs, the two left on a motorcycle bearing registration number CK 9296 which was owned by Fraser.
As the two were heading west along the last street in ‘B’ Field Sophia, they were confronted by a lone gunman on a bicycle from a northern direction who discharged six rounds at them.
The suspect then rode away in a western direction making good his escape.
Nevertheless, both Fraser and Forde were picked up by Fraser’s brother Darrel Fraser and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where they were pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. Close examination of the bodies revealed that Fraser received one gunshot wound to his chest, while Forde received three gunshot wounds- one to her knee, one to her chest, and one to her right-side abdomen which exited the left side abdomen.
Grant was later arrested and while in custody, Grant was also questioned in relation to an accusation that he and another man allegedly opened fire on Meadow Brook Gardens resident, Kenneth Reid.
Grant was brought before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts earlier in the day when he was remanded for the charge. It is alleged that on July 28, at Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens, George-town, while in the company of another, he discharged a loaded firearm in the direction of Kenneth Reid.
Reports are that Grant and another man allegedly rode up in front of Reid’s place as he was about to lock the gate to his Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens home. At the time, Grant was reportedly the pillion rider of the motorcycle. Both he and his accomplice dismounted the motorcycle and discharged several rounds in Reid’s direction. They then escaped. Reid was not injured. Derwin Benons was also charged for this shooting.
