Three charged with murdering guard during Lethem heist

Three persons were today charged with the murder of a security guard during the multi-million dollar armed heist in Lethem last weekend.

Alvin Kissoon, Calvin King and Theresa Lovell, who were allegedly held by police with the stolen cash, were refused bail and remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on the capital charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that on January 18, at Central Rupununi, Lethem, they murdered John Christopher during a robbery at the Lethem Post Office.

Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick said that between January 18 and 19, the three accused entered the post office and attacked two security guards that were on duty, broke into five safes and stole over $9.8M before escaping.

Bostwick noted that during the robbery, they tied up the two guards and proceeded to beat them. During the beating, he said, one of the guards subsequently died.

He told the court that an investigation was launched and the three accused were intercepted with the cash, a quantity of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) phone cards and two pay slips.

The accused, who were not required to plead to the charge when it was read to them, were subsequently remanded until March 5, when the case is to be heard at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.