Kurt Thomas, also known as “Yankee,” was today found guilty by a 12-member jury of the murder of Parika fuel dealer Seeram Singh.
The jury found Thomas guilty of the charge, which read that on April 30, 2016, in the county of Essequibo, he murdered Singh.
Thomas was on trial for the offence before Justice Navindra Singh in the High Court of Demerara.
After hearing of the guilty verdict, Thomas began cursing while maintaining his innocence. The convicted killer has been further remanded to prison pending sentence. No date has been fixed for sentencing.
Attorney-at-law Lyndon Amsterdam represented Thomas while the State was represented by prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker.
Based on reports, Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, was stabbed to his abdomen and shot twice – to his head and hip. The bullet to his head was at close range and may have been the fatal shot.
At the time, media reports stated that Singh was talking to someone on his mobile phone when he was attacked and stabbed. In an attempt to raise an alarm, the injured man ran towards a shop, but the gunman gave chase and caught up with him.
A scuffle ensued, and it was then the suspect discharged two rounds at Singh. Reports stated that as the businessman fell, the gunman relieved him of two gold chains and escaped. Singh was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara (WCD), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
