Special Prosecutor Attorney-at-Law, Dexter Todd this morning told a City Court, that he is having difficulties in locating two civilians, who are witnesses in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), being conducted into the murder of Jason De Florimonte, who was allegedly shot and killed by a city hotelier.
In the circumstances, the Prosecutor told the court that he is prepared to close the case for the State after calling six police witnesses. In disclosing attempts made to have the civilians appear in court, Prosecutor Todd said that summons were sent to the last known addresses of the witnesses.
Guyana Standard was informed that the testimonies of these two witnesses are not vital to the case.
In relation to the police witness, Prosecutor Todd disclosed that some of them are still in lying given the recently concluded Local Government Elections (LGE), while another is in Bartica. Nevertheless, the PI continues tomorrow morning and then again next week Monday, November 19, 2018.
Charged with the murder of De Florimonte is 45-year-old Erwin Bacchus, the owner of the Tourist Villa Hotel located in Subryanville, Georgetown. Bacchus of 260 Fifth Avenue Subryanville was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that on August 04, 2018, he murdered De Florimonte.
De Florimonte, 30, of 96 Fifth Avenue Subryanville, was shot four times to his chest during a confrontation with Bacchus. Reports suggests that the now deceased had pursued the hotel’s handyman who had alleged he tried to stop De Florimonte from beating his girlfriend.
During the process, Bacchus was allegedly attacked by De Florimonte who was armed with a knife and rolling pin. The city hotelier opened fire on De Florimonte. Bacchus was initially charged with manslaughter and was released on $1.5M bail. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), however, upgraded the charge against him to murder.
The lawyers appearing for Bacchus are Nigel Hughes and Glenn Hanoman. The PI is being conducted by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
