Injured suspect charged with murder of taxi driver

A suspect involved in the murder of 38-year-old taxi driver, Kelvin Walters appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the capital offence.

Rodrick Thomas, a 28-year-old Security Officer of William Street, Kitty, had to be assisted by Police Officers into the courtroom because of a broken leg.

He was jointly charged with his co-accused Devon Allen, who was not present in court, given the fact that he remains hospitalized.

The charge alleged that on January 22, 2019, at Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara, the duo murdered Walters by shooting him in his car while he was driving with his wife and 5-year-old daughter.

Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers told the court that Thomas and Allen were injured during the commission of the crime and that Allen is the number one suspect.

The suspects were arrested at the Woodlands Hospital where they sought treatment following the crime.

Thomas was represented by Attorneys-at-law James Bond and Siand Dhurjon.

Bond told the court that his client was injured during a mining accident and made an application for him to receive treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation or at the infirmary of the Lusignan Prison.

Thomas was remanded to the Lusignan prison until February 15, 2019, where he will receive further treatment.

Walters was a taxi driver attached to the Indian Chief Taxi Service; he resided at Queenstown, Georgetown and Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Police said that Walters was proceeding south on the McDoom Public Road, EBD in the vicinity of Two Brothers Gas station at around 19:30hrs with his wife and 5-year-old daughter in the car when motorcycle CJ 2686 pulled up alongside them and two men ordered Walters to pull over.

After Walters refused, one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot him in his left side jaw. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where was pronounced dead on arrival.

Walters managed to injure one of the suspects by crashing his car into the motorbike.