‘Suga’ remanded for 2024 murder after months on the run

A man was remanded to prison after being charged on Thursday with the murder of a man in an incident that occurred in 2024.

Nicholas Johnson, called ‘Suga,’ a 25-year-old heavy-duty machine operator, appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Springlands Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The court heard that on February 20,2024, at Number 53 Village, Corentyne, Johnson fatally stabbed 31-year-old Colene Toney.
During the proceedings, Johnson was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Reports indicate that the incident unfolded at about 11:30 PM following a dispute over a phone. What began as a verbal altercation escalated into a fight, during which Johnson allegedly stabbed Toney, a labourer from Number 53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Johnson then fled the scene on a motorcycle.

Toney was discovered lying on the ground, bleeding heavily. He was rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Seventeen months after the incident, Johnson surrendered to the Springlands Police Station in the company of an attorney, ending a lengthy period in hiding.

Johnson, who is represented by attorneys Chandra Sohan and Adrian Annamyaha, had his case transferred to the Number 51 Magistrates’ Court. It is set for continuation on August 27, 2025.

While in custody, police informed Johnson that in his absence, he was sentenced to 51 months in prison for felonious wounding of Andrea Greaves, a sentence handed down by Magistrate Robindranauth Singh.

He has also been committed by Magistrate Renita Singh to stand trial in the High Court for rape and faces additional charges for causing bodily harm through reckless driving and multiple counts of assault.