Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle on Monday remanded to prison another man who allegedly robbed a woman and murdered her husband, a scrap metal dealer, on Brickdam in July.

Rondell Bacchus

Twenty-six-year-old Rondell Bacchus of ‘C’ Field, Sophia Squatting Area, who was also charged with robbery under arms and murder was not required to plead to the indictable charges. Bacchus was further charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition to which he pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that on July 24 on Brickdam, Andrew Morris, 34, of 263 East La Penitence, and Bacchus used a gun to  rob Bibi Hydar Alli of $2.1 million in cash and also murdered her husband Akbar Alli.

A police press release issued in July had stated that Alli and his wife had gone to a city bank to do business. They later went to Brickdam with the intention of transacting business with an auto dealer.

The release said further that Alli parked his motor vehicle and as he and his wife stepped out and she was holding the bag containing the cash, they were robbed at gunpoint by two men on a motorcycle. Reports were that Alli began running behind the motorcycle and the armed man, who was the pillion rider, then shot him in the chest. Alli died of the gunshot wound.

Akbar Alli

Magistrate Robertson-Ogle had initially transferred the case to Court Five but Bacchus pleaded for it not to be sent there. Magistrate Robertson-Ogle then transferred the robbery and murder case for Bacchus and Morris to Court Two for October 15. Bacchus is also due to appear the same day on firearm and ammunition charges.

On August 22, Morris of Lot 263 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown appeared before court on the same matter. He was also charged in connection with another murder.