By Sharda Bacchus
Seven men, who are at the centre of an investigation into the abduction of Joshua David, who remains missing, were charged jointly on Friday in connection with the crime and granted bail of $500,000 each.
Aaron Alleyne, known as ‘Cats’; Wayne Barker, 34, of Laing Avenue, Georgetown; Damion Barlow, 32, of Sophia; Dwayne Griffith, known as ‘Sheep’, 27; and Daventai Mars, 21, of Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The men are accused of abducting Joshua David on 26 September 2024 on Main Street, Georgetown, with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine him.
On Friday, charges were withdrawn against two other men, Alpha Poole and Osafo Peters, who were charged last week in relation to the same crime.
All seven defendants have now been charged jointly with the abduction of David.
The men, who arrived in court with their faces concealed and their feet shackled, were not required to enter a plea to the charge.
Known as ‘Bricks’ among his peers, David was abducted outside a restaurant on Main Street, Georgetown, where he had gone to purchase food on the evening of 26 September.
Acting on information, police began their search for David days after his abduction, focusing on the backlands of Buxton and Annandale. However, after three days of searching, nothing of evidential value was found.
The court hearing lasted over an hour, with defence attorneys and the prosecution engaging in a back-and-forth, primarily regarding whether the accused should be granted bail prior to trial.
Attorneys Glenn Hanoman and Everton Lammy-Singh, representing Poole and Peters respectively, initially requested that their clients be tried separately from the other defendants. However, this request was denied by the magistrate, who cited limited resources and time constraints.
Hanoman placed significant emphasis on video footage that captured the abduction, which has been circulating on social media. He argued that Poole was not visible in the video, while Peters’ lawyer claimed his client was on the opposite side of the road at the time and had not been directly involved.
To clarify this, the magistrate ordered that the video be played in court. However, despite attempts, court staff encountered technical difficulties and the video could not be played.
Attorney Damion DaSilva represented Barker and Mars, while attorney Siand Dhurjon appeared on behalf of Alleyne, Griffith, and Barlow.
The defence argued that there was no substantial reason to deny bail, emphasising that the offence is bailable and carries a penalty of no more than five years’ imprisonment.
They also highlighted that, from the outset, the accused had voluntarily surrendered to the police and cooperated fully during the investigation.
In his submission, the prosecutor objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence. He informed the court that the investigation is still ongoing and, while David has not yet been located, the men may face more serious charges in the future.
After considering both sides, the magistrate granted bail on the condition that the men surrender their passports and report to Brickdam Police Station every Friday.
Relatives of David, who were present in court, appeared visibly distressed by the outcome. Several were seen crying as they left the courtroom.
The matter has been adjourned to November 15 2024.
