Murder accused David Leander also known as ‘Biscuit’ and David Zammett was yesterday admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), suspected to have been poisoned and is said to be in a serious condition.
According to hospital sources, Leander was admitted at approximately 9.15 am yesterday frothing at the mouth and complaining of feeling severely unwell.
When Stabroek News visited him at his bedside in the male surgical open ward yesterday he was wearing an oxygen mask and groaning while tossing from side to side, appearing to be in unbearable pain. He seemed unable to speak and made only moaning sounds.
Leander, clad in his prison pants, was handcuffed to the bed and under heavy police guard.
Concerned and disgruntled relatives, who had gathered in their numbers at the hospital, were heard speculating about his illness.
As they constantly quarrelled among themselves about the incident, one woman was heard saying, “is she [no name] poison he.” Another kept repeating, “how people could be suh wicked.”
A cousin of the sick man who requested anonymity said she could not say what exactly had transpired except that the family was informed that Leander was suspected to have been poisoned and admitted to the GPH in a serious condition.
The relatives were at times also heard praying for the man’s recovery while others were moved to tears. “Is only the oxygen dat he teking keeping he alive right now,” one of them said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee in a telephone interview with Stabroek News, when asked to comment on the issue said he was aware of Leander being taken to the hospital to have several tests conducted. Rohee said he did not know of any suspected poisoning. “I cannot comment on any suspected poisoning because I don’t know of that. I am still waiting the results of the tests,” the Home Affairs Minister said. “Beyond that I cannot say anything.”
Leander of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) became known to the public when on November 8, 2007 he was charged with the murders of Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh, his brother Rajpat Sawh, his sister Phulmattie Persaud and his security guard Curtis Robinson on April 22 at La Bonne Intention (LBI), ECD.
Magistrate Yohhannseh Cave on Monday ruled an oral statement purportedly made by Leander inadmissible in the preliminary inquiry (PI).
Leander was captured during a joint services operation in Buxton that resulted in the deaths of Noel ‘Baby’ James who had recently been released from prison after serving a sentence for larceny and Orlando Andrews called ‘Bullet’ or ‘Jeffrey’ of Buxton who was wanted in connection with a number of murders.
When Leander first appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, he had visible injuries about his body and could hardly walk. His attorney had said that he was tortured by police while in custody. He was later admitted to the Georgetown Hospital following an order by Justice Jainarayan Singh Jr. These allegations were again presented before Magistrate Cave when the PI commenced at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
