The prosecution has closed its case in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) of Andrew Benjamin, a vagrant who was killed while sleeping on the pavement on Regent Street, Georgetown.
The man accused of murdering Benjamin is Twenty-four-year-old Devon Johnson.
Johnson, who was deemed fit by a psychiatrist is currently on trial before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Johnson, of Cummings Street Bourda, Georgetown, was charged on December 4,2019, for the murder of Raymond Samaroo and Andrew Benjamin, both of whom were vagrants.
However, the Chief Magistrate is conducting the PI involving Benjamin while Senior Magistrate Leron Daly will be conducting the PI involving Samaroo.
Particulars of the first charge stated that on November 11, 2019, at Regent Street, Georgetown, he murdered Raymond Samaroo.
The second charge stated that on November 11, 2019, at Regent Street, Georgetown, he murdered Andrew Benjamin.
Johnson was not required to plead to the charges after they were read to him by the Magistrate.
This morning when the matter was called, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers called his final witness to testify in the matter. The Magistrate then ruled on the alleged oral statement given by Johnson. In her ruling, she told the court that after considering the evidence of the prosecution’s witnesses, she is of the opinion that the oral statement was given freely and voluntarily. As such, the court admits the oral statement as admissible evidence as part of the prosecution’s case. The Magistrate then adjourned the matter until March 12 when she will make a ruling in the matter.
According to information, on the day in question, around 21:30hours, Samaroo was standing on the pavement outside Household Plus store when Johnson, who was armed with a knife, approached him and dealt him several stabs about his body and made good his escape.
It was reported that a few hours later, around 03:00 hours, Benjamin and another were asleep in the vicinity of Lime Street when Johnson, who was armed with a knife, approached them and dealt Benjamin several chops about his body and made good his escape.
The injured men were then picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where they were pronounced dead on arrival. The matter was then reported and police, upon viewing CCTV footage, saw the defendant stabbing the men. He was then arrested for the offences.
On the defendant’s first court appearance, the prosecutor had informed the court that a medical evaluation was conducted on the defendant and based on the result, he is unfit to be charged for the offences. However, based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) he was charged.
