Man accused of killing son-in-law arrested at Ogle Airport

Hours after reportedly shooting and killing his son-in-law, 44-year-old Sherwayne Brandt was arrested at the Eugene Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara while attempting to flee the country.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told the News Room that the arrest was made on Saturday between 14:30hrs and 15:00hrs.

The Crime Chief revealed that Brandt had booked a flight to the United States with an in transit in Trinidad and Tobago.

“He was blacklisted after the initial stage of the investigation. He was going to Trinidad and then the US,” the Crime Chief revealed.

Leon Gittens, Brandt’s son-in-law, was shot dead on night at Freeman Street, East La Penitence in Georgetown. Brandt had reportedly disguised himself as a woman during the shooting; he was wearing a blue dress and a wig.

Police Headquarters reported that Gittens had been threatened by Brandt in January.

On Friday last, when Gittens went to pick up his girlfriend, the suspect entered the East La Penitence premises.

The girlfriend reportedly told the police that it was her father who shot Gittens. She said she hid from her father but heard three loud explosions that sounded like gunshots.

Soon after, the suspect escaped and Gittens was found lying in front of a bedroom. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and pronounced dead.

Gittens is no stranger to the court. In November 2017, he was among four men who were remanded to prison for a series of robbery-related charges.

Meanwhile, Brandt was remanded to prison in October 2018 for allegedly raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

The charge alleged that on October 7, 2015, at Sophia, he engaged in sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl. Brandt, who was a bus driver at the time, was jointly charged with his conductor, Asahel Williams.