After being on trial for months in the Providence Magistrates’ Courts, the owner of the Tourist Villa, Erwin Bacchus, was today committed to stand trial for the shooting death of his neighbour, Jason De Florimonte.
Bacchus, 45, of 260 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, was committed by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman for the August 4, 2018 murder of De Florimonte. He was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that on August 4, 2018 at Subryanville, he murdered De Florimonte, 30, of 96 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville.
Magistrate Latchman this afternoon ruled that after going through the evidence presented by the witnesses of Special Prosecutor, Dexter Todd, she found sufficient evidence against Bacchus to commit him for the murder.
Hence, she told Bacchus that he will go on trail at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
Throughout the trial Bacchus was represented by attorneys-at-law Glenn Hanoman and Nigel Hughes.
Special Prosecutor Dexter Todd was assigned by the DPP after family members of the deceased made certain complaints about the way the police was handling the matter.
According to information, on the day in question at around 01:00 hrs, De Florimonte was seen abusing a woman and the handyman went to part them. Soon after, an argument ensued between the handyman and the now dead man.
The court was told that De Florimonte began attacking the handyman with a knife and a rolling pin. It was then that Bacchus reportedly fired several shots at De Florimonte, causing him to sustain injuries.
According to information, an autopsy conducted on De Florimonte revealed that he was shot three times about his body.
