Shopkeeper charged with murder of Toshao

A 27-year-old Shopkeeper on Wednesday appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of Indigenous Village leader, Toshao Solomon Lewis.

Addison Benjamin of Lima, Essequibo Coast, was not required to plea to the indictable charge, which alleged that on January 1, 2019, at Kurutuku Village in Region Seven, he murdered Lewis.

Benjamin was represented by Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd, who told the court that his client acted in self-defence after he was attacked by Lewis, the son, Marvin Lewis and other men.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question at about 03:30hrs, the two were involved in a heated argument after Benjamin allegedly abused Lewis’ daughter.

It is alleged that Benjamin armed himself with a cutlass and beheaded Solomon.

He then turned his attention to Marvin and severed one of his hands. Benjamin was later arrested by the police.

Mansfield told the court that more charges will be brought before Benjamin, including the attempted murder of Marvin Lewis.

He was remanded to prison until January 28, 2019