Wounded accused in attack on judge charged

An incapacitated Warren McKenzie arrived at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts yesterday on a hospital stretcher to be charged in connection with the brazen home invasion of land court judge Nicole Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand.

McKenzie was said to have been discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was admitted for a gunshot wound he sustained following the shootout between the SWAT team and his alleged co-accused at a house at Craig, East Bank Demerara on July 14th.

Warren McKenzie
Warren McKenzie

However, when Magistrate Ann McLennan inquired from officers why he was brought to court on a stretcher, McKenzie explained that since he was shot he has been unable to move from the bed.

Nevertheless, two charges of armed robbery as well as one charge of unloading a loaded firearm at the security guard were read to him by the magistrate.

The first charge stated that on July 9th, McKenzie, being in the company of Damion Millington, Nicholas Narine and Anthony David, robbed Justice Pierre of articles including watches, a tablet, video game consoles and games, a phone, a laptop and a quantity of gold and gemstones, all amounting to a total value of $1 million. He was also charged with robbing Chand of five watches, a wedding ring, four Oakley sunglasses, two leather wallets, a Samsung S5 cellphone and US$8,000, all amounting to $2,630,000, all while being armed with a gun and in the company of Narine, David and Millington Additionally, McKenzie was charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Raul Peters with the intention of causing him actual bodily harm on the same day.

The accused was not required to plead to the charges as they were indictable.

McKenzie, of Agricola, was subsequently remanded to jail and is expected to make his next court appearance on September 8th at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Warren McKenzie, who is accused of robbing land court judge Nicole Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand, was taken to court on a stretcher yesterday to be charged. (Photo by Keno George)
Warren McKenzie, who is accused of robbing land court judge Nicole Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand, was taken to court on a stretcher yesterday to be charged. (Photo by Keno George)

Police previously stated that four men armed with firearms had broken into the home of Justice Pierre after overpowering and tying up the Special Constable on duty.

The perpetrators reportedly held up Pierre and her husband and son, during which she and her husband were assaulted. The bandits took away a portable safe with money and jewellery and a suitcase with articles.

As the perpetrators were leaving the premises they were confronted by Peters at a neighbouring residence, and there was an exchange of gunfire during which the perpetrators dropped the safe and suitcase and escaped.

The judge reportedly sustained a broken jaw as a result of the beating she received during the robbery, while Chand lost an eye.

McKenzie and the other men were arrested a little over a month ago after a party of police officers from the SWAT team swooped down at a house at Craig, East Bank Demerara and arrested seven persons after a confrontation. Wanted man Rolston Morrison, 29, was shot dead during an exchange at the house, while McKenzie was wounded.

Millington, Narine and David and another man, Premnauth Samaroo, were previously charged with carrying out the attack.