Kaneville murder accused to face trial

Orpheus Johnson, who is accused of the murder of Kaneville resident Brendon Charles, who was beaten and shot, was yesterday committed to stand trial in the High Court.

The announcement was made by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who presided over the preliminary inquiry into the charge against Johnson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Orpheus Johnson

The Magistrate informed the court that a prima facie case had been made out against the accused and he will go to trial when the next criminal assizes of the Supreme Court of Judicature begins in April this year.

Johnson, who was 21 years old at the time of the alleged crime, formerly resided at 13 First Street, Craig, East Bank Demerara.

Brendon Charles

It is alleged that between April 7 and 8, 2009, at Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, Johnson murdered Charles. His battered and shot body was discovered in a yard several streets away from his Lot 914 Fourth Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara home. A post-mortem examination conducted on the man’s body revealed that he died from a single gunshot which caused extensive damage to his heart and lungs.