‘Whistle’ charged over Cool Square murder

A city resident appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court last Friday charged with the January 24 murder of businessman Imtiaz Roopnarine.

Leon Duncan called `Whistle’ of West Ruimveldt appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and was remanded to prison until May 22. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud has since said that the police are still looking for a second man in connection with the killing.

Imtiaz Roopnarine
Imtiaz Roopnarine

Based on the accounts given to this newspaper, Roopnarine checked into the Cool Square guesthouse around 4 am. When he emerged around 5.30 am, a gunman opened fire, causing him to run back into the guesthouse compound. There are reports that while Roopnarine was inside there were two men lurking outside.

Stabroek News had been told that the gunman jumped the fence and pursued the fleeing Roopnarine, who was cornered at the back of the yard. The businessman did not get a chance to use his licensed firearm, which was later recovered from the scene by police.

Surveillance cameras set up in the compound of the guesthouse captured the incident but the images were blurred.