Teenagers charged with businessman’s murder

Two teenagers appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, October 3, charged with the murder of 58-year-old Fazal Shaheed, who was shot several times during an armed robbery at Freeman Street, East La Penitence on September 24, 2017.

Shawn DaSantos, 19 and Stephen Howard,18, both residents of Freeman Street, were jointly charged; they did not have legal representation and were not required to plead to the indictable offence. The duo was remanded to prison until October 19, 2017.

Howard told the court that he was beaten by police ranks and forced to confess to the crime. The 18-year-old further alleged that he was forced to implicate DaSantos in the crime.

Fazal Shaheed, a father of one, was shot approximately three times to his abdomen and once in the region of his lungs. His brothers, Abdul Talim Shaheed and Shalim Shaheed were also injured during the attack at the Lot 194 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown home. At the time of the incident, the family was preparing for memorial service in observance of their father’s one-year death anniversary.

According to the family, Talim of Toronto, Canada was shot once and Shalim of the United States was shot approximately three times. Fazal resided at Albion, Corentyne and was self-employed.