Ex-GDF rank charged with manslaughter, released on bail

A 40-year-old former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was on Friday slapped with a manslaughter charge following the death of 24-year-old Akeem Ceaser, a miner of Wismar, Linden.

Devon Harris also known as “Tall-man”  of Friendship, East Bank Demerara appeared before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that he fatally shot Ceaser on March 3, 2020, at Blackwater Backdam, Kanawaruk, Mahdia.

The Prosecutor made no objection to bail but requested that conditions are attached.

The Chief Magistrate released Harris on $200,000 bail with the condition that he reports to the Police every Friday at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at Eve Leary.

The matter is adjourned to April 9.

Ceaser was at a shop imbibing with friends when an argument ensued between him and Harris which then led to a physical encounter.

A man parted the two but Ceaser later showed up with two broken bottles and attacked Harris.

Harris, who worked as a security guard in the interior, pulled out his firearm and shot Ceaser once in the left foot, gun- butted him in the head and fled the scene.

Ceaser was taken to Mahdia District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Harris which led to his arrest earlier this week.