East La Penitence duo on cattle rustling charges

Two men were yesterday placed on bail after denying that they stole cattle and slit the throat of a pregnant cow and later removed her calf.

It is alleged on October 9, at Sophia, East Coast Demerara, Shawn Garraway, a miner of 540 East La Penitence and Eon Garraway, also a miner and who shares the same address, stole two cows valued $500,000, belonging to Ramnauth Ramkellawan. It is also alleged that on the same day at Sophia they also stole another cow, valued $180,000, belonging to Colin George.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail citing the manner in which the crime was committed.

The prosecutor said that on October 9, Ramkellawan took his cows out to graze in Sophia and left them there for approximately half an hour. Upon returning, he discovered two of the cows missing and one dead. The dead cow’s neck was slit. She had been pregnant and her calf was removed, he noted.

Eon Garraway
Eon Garraway
 Shawn Garraway
Shawn Garraway

The stolen cows were subsequently discovered at a house in Cane View.

Ramkellawan, while confirming that the cow that was found dead was pregnant at the time it died, appeared emotional while making his submission to the court.

Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, who represented the Garraways, asked for reasonable bail for his clients. Bail was set at $125,000 for each man, while the case was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where it will be called on November 7.