An uncle and a woman said to be a ‘family friend’ of Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles, who allegedly harboured him while he was alive and wanted, were both remanded to prison yesterday when they appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

William Younge

William Younge, 32, of 133 Remus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara and Louton Simon, 32, of 32 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara were charged with harbouring ‘Skinny’ and they pleaded not guilty.

Following months of pursuit, the Joint Services last week shot and killed Guyana’s most wanted Rondell `Fineman’ Rawlins and escaped prisoner and multiple murder accused Charles in an operation on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

It is alleged that between June 26 and August 28 in Georgetown the two accused knowingly harboured Charles whose name and photograph had been publicly displayed and published by the police as a wanted person in connection with a number of  murders.

After hearing the charge, Younge changed his plea to guilty stating that he was indeed ‘Skinny’s’ uncle but  he maintained that he had nothing to do with harbouring his nephew. He further declared his innocence by stating that it was only about a month ago that he met Simon, his co-accused.

He said that on the day of ‘Skinny’s’ death he was at his Agricola home making porridge when he got a phone call from Simon. He said she told him that he should go to her home for a chain to put around ‘Skinny’s’ neck on the day of his funeral. When he got there, he said, she then suggested that they watch the news to see what was happening with ‘Skinny’s’ body.

He admitted seeing ‘Skinny’ some time ago at his sister’s house, but said he had left immediately since he did not want to be involved in any of the trouble that ‘Skinny’ was in.

He said that when he was arrested, the police took him to Eve Leary where they enquired about another criminal who would usually “drop Skinny” around the place.

He told the magistrate that he informed the police that he only knew the other man, who he said was called ‘Chrissy’, as a “brother” and gave the police the man’s address. Younge also said that he was beaten, tortured, shocked and had a plastic bag placed over his head by the police for two days and it was because he was under pressure that he signed a statement to what they accused him of.

After hearing his side of the story, Magistrate Ogle entered a not guilty plea for him.

Meanwhile, Simon said she had visited ‘Skinny’ at the prison a few times but she was not involved in any illegal acts and expressed surprise that Charles actually had her number. She also stated that she was a single mother of five, and her youngest child was just two months old. She said there was no one to take care of her children.

Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews objected to bail for both of the accused citing the seriousness of the offence and also stating that both Younge and Simon gave false addresses to the police ranging from Agricola to Sophia and Cummings Lodge Squatting area.

Matthews said both accused have other charges pending and the police have evidence that indicate that Simon had been communicating with ‘Skinny’ and other criminal elements via cell phone. He said the police found her number in a phone used by ‘Skinny’.

Simon then stated that the Cummings Lodge address was her mother’s, but that she had a shop there, which she operated.

Magistrate Ogle refused bail for both accused and ordered that they be remanded and the matter be transferred to Court Two for September 8.