Two charged, five others surrender in abduction of Joshua David

Although an order was issued for their release, two men were on Friday remanded to prison after they were charged for allegedly abducting Joshua David called ‘Bricks’ one week ago.

Alpha Poole, 35 of Stanley Place, Kitty, Georgetown and Osafo Peters, 28 of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

At the same time, five other suspects in the matter; Aaron Alleyne called ‘Cats’, Wayne Barker, Damion Barlow, Dwayne Griffith and Daventai Mars surrendered to the Police at the Brickdam Police on Friday.

It is alleged that on September 26, 2024 at Main Street, Georgetown, while in the company of others, Poole and Peters abducted David, with the intent of secretly and wrongfully confining him.

The men were not required to plead to the charge and were remanded to prison. The case was adjourned to October 11, 2024.

Known fondly ‘Bricks’ among his peers, David was abducted outside a Main Street, Georgetown restaurant where he had gone to purchase food on the evening of September 26.

Acting on information, the Police began their search for David last weekend in the Buxton and Annandale backlands. However, three days of searches ended in futility as nothing of evidential value was found.

Before the men were taken to court on Friday, a legal dispute unfolded when attorney Everton Lammy-Singh informed the court of an order that was issued for both men to be immediately released from custody as they were kept in custody beyond their 72-hour detention period.

The order was handed down by High Court Judge Justice Nichole Pierre. She ruled in favour of their release, citing the breach of legal protocol.

Singh-Lammy told the News Room that he will be returning to the High Court to seek contempt charges.

During the Court proceeding, the prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the men were likely to be charged with a more serious offence as David was not located.

However, Lammy-Singh and Glenn Hanoman, who is representing Poole argued that under the laws of Guyana, the offence is a bailable one and it does not attract a penalty of more than five years.

Among other things, they highlighted that while the pictures of the accused are being plastered on the internet, they are not among the persons who were captured on the video abducting David.

The lawyers also told the court that bulletins were issued for their clients one day after the alleged incident without the Police making any efforts to arrest them.

In fact, they said both Poole and Peters voluntarily surrendered to the Police.

After listening to both sides, the magistrate remanded the men. She also ordered that on the next court date, still images from the video of the abduction be presented in court as well as the video which captured the abduction.

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