Berbice vendor who chopped bandit to death released on $600k bail

A fresh legal charge has been formally instituted against  Seeindra Marimutoo, a 43-year-old poultry vendor hailing from Portuguese Quarters in Corentyne, Region Six.

He is accused of fatally wounding 18-year-old Parmand Pertab.

Marimutoo was remanded to prison in November after being charged with the murder of Pertab. The incident, which sparked significant public interest, occurred during an alleged robbery attempt at the Port Mourant Market, Berbice.

Following consultation with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), legal counsel determined it was more appropriate to withdraw the initial charge of murder and substitute it with a charge of manslaughter. The charge was laid under Section 94 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 of the laws Guyana.

On Monday, January 20, Marimutoo appeared before the Whim Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate Tuanna Hardy. The court granted him bail of $600,000, thereby allowing his provisional release pending further legal proceedings. He is scheduled for a return appearance in court on February 17.

Initially, when Marimutoo made his first court appearance Attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat, representing him, said there were plans to petition the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to review the charge.

Rahamat cited Guyana’s constitutional protections, arguing that self-defense, including using necessary force to protect property, can serve as a full legal defense in such cases.

The defense highlighted the role of key witnesses who reportedly saw the confrontation, suggesting that law enforcement had not adequately documented their statements.

The robbery took place at approximately 09:15 hrs on October 26 where a quantity of gold and silver jewelry were stolen. Pertab was armed with a cutlass while the second suspect was armed with a handgun.

The businessman opened his jewelry shop at around 07:30 hrs and began attending to customers.

At about 09:15 hrs, Pertab approached, wielding a cutlass, and began striking the businessman’s assistant, injuring him.

Meanwhile, the second suspect, armed with a handgun, instructed the businessman and his assistant to lie on the ground. They complied, and the robbers began filling a blue string bag with jewelry before fleeing on foot.

The businessman raised an alarm, attracting market patrons who tried to stop the robbers. In response, the armed suspect fired three shots, injuring a bystander in his right leg and left thigh.

Pertab, still carrying the cutlass and the blue bag with the stolen jewelry, was confronted by several persons at the market, including Marimutoo.

They managed to disarm him, retrieve the stolen jewelry, and hand it over to the Police. All stolen items were recovered and accounted for, Police said.

During the confrontation, Pertab sustained multiple injuries and collapsed.

Both the injured bystander and Pertab were taken to Port Mourant Public Hospital. Pertab later succumbed to his injuries during treatment while the injured bystander, Mark Lovell, was treated and later discharged himself.

A post-mortem conducted on Pertab revealed that he died from multiple wounds compounded by shock and hemorrhage.