The three accused who were committed to stand trial for the brutal beating of a 22-year-old East Bank Essequibo fisherman in 2017 on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the crime.
Former Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Mandy Sukhdeo, along with her father Surendra Sukhdeo and their neighbour Rean Ghani, were arraigned before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court for murder.
The trio denied murdering Shereffudeen Mohamed Nazamudeen called “Sheriff” on February 14, 2017 at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.
A jury was empaneled and the trial will commence next Monday.
The trio is represented by attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes, Konyo Sandiford-Holder and Kiswana Jefford. The State is represented by prosecutors Latifiah Elliot, Marisa Edwards and Simran Gajraj.
In February 2021, the trio were first tried for the capital offence. However, the jury could not arrive at a verdict and the case was sent for retrial.
According to reports, Mandy and Nazamudeen were known to each other since they grew up together in the village of Ruby.
It was alleged that Nazamudeen grabbed a bag from Mandy and attempted to run away when she called out for her father.
Her father and Ghanie armed themselves with pieces of wood and dealt the young fisherman several lashes. They later tied him up and continued beating him.
Nazamudeen sustained several injuries to his body and was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he subsequently died.
