The man accused of shooting New York-based Guyanese Felix Alleyne, who lost one his kidneys as a result, was yesterday remanded to prison after being arraigned on an attempted murder charge.
The allegation against Oriley Small is that on January 9 at Georgetown, with intent to commit murder, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Alleyne.
Additionally, Small was arraigned on an armed robbery charge which alleges that on the same day, being armed with a gun, he robbed Alleyne of a gold chain, valued $150,000.
The 27-year-old plumber, who resides at Lot 6 Ketley and Drysdale streets, Charlestown, was not required to plead to the indictable charges when they were read to him by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court
Police sergeant Lionel Harvey said that at the time of the incident, Alleyne, who is an overseas-based Guyanese, was visiting a friend at North/East La Penitence.
Harvey said that at approximately 9:15pm, Small and an accomplice approached Alleyne, who was speaking with friends, and he chucked him.
A scuffle then ensued, during which the accused relieved Alleyne of his chain and shot him in the lower abdomen. Small and his accomplice then made good their escape. The court was told that the entire incident was caught on security cameras mounted in the area. Subsequent police investigations led to Small’s arrest while his accomplice is yet to be arrested.
Attorney George Thomas, who represented Small, made an application for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail or in the alternative a short date for the commencement of trial.
In his bail application, Thomas said that his client had no antecedents and posed no risk of flight. He was however unsuccessful in securing a bail release, after Harvey advanced its objections. He contended that the offence is serious and prevalent. Further, Harvey asked the court to take into consideration the weapon used in the alleged incident, the medical condition of Alleyne, who is still hospitalized and has since lost one of his kidneys, and the fact that the defendant’s accomplice remains at-large.
After listening to the submissions, the magistrate informed the father of one that he would be remanded to prison until January 16. His matter was subsequently transferred to Court Two for reports on the VC’s condition and fixtures for trial.
Alleyne, 37, who resides in Staten Island, New York, USA, was staying at Paradise, East Coast Demerara, and related to Stabroek News that he would usually hang out at his friend’s shop in North/East La Penitence where the incident occurred. He has had to extend his stay in Guyana because of his injuries.
