Exactly one month after Magistrate Peter Hugh dismissed murder charges against two men for the brutal killing of Isaiah Henry, which occurred in September 2020, the two were re-charged on Thursday with the offence of murder.
It comes following strong objection by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali Hack, who challenged the decision of the Magistrate to dismiss the charges.
The DPP insists that there was sufficient evidence against the two named accused – 34-year-old Anil Sancharra, called “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’ Edward Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB); and 30-year-old Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga,” of Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice.
When the two were recharged on Thursday, the charge was laid in accordance to common law.
The matter was heard via Zoom at Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court where the charge was read to Sancharra alone, as Gopaul was not present. Sancharra was not required to plea.
The matter is adjourned to the August 10, 2021 and transferred to the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court when the charge is expected to be read to Gopaul.
The court had previously set August 10, 2021, for the commencement of the (Preliminary Inquiry) PI into Joel Henry murder, the cousin of Isaiah who was murdered along with him.
Although the two have been discharged of the murder of Isaiah, they remained on remand until the PI into Joel’s murder is complete.
but the DPP has also discontinued that charge and a new joint charge for both Joel and Isaiah Henry is now laid.
The police had claimed that the two men, along with another, murdered the cousins between September 5, 2020, and September 6, 2020, at Cotton Tree Backdam, WCB.
Singh had allegedly told his relatives and another person about the crime and his role in it.
One of the persons he told informed the police and Singh was then arrested at his Zeelugt house and later told detectives of the others who were involved.
