Second youth charged over fatal Grove robbery

A second youth was yesterday charged with the robbery and attempted murder of businessman Neezam Khan, following last weekend’s shootout at Grove, East Bank Demerara.

Dwayne Peters, 21, of Bagotstown, was read four charges at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 1.

Peters was read two indictable charges that stated on June 6th, 2015, at the Grove Public Road, he discharged a loaded firearm at Khan, with intent to kill and that he robbed Khan of a $200,000 gold chain and a $500,000 gold ring. He was not required to plead to the charges.

Additionally, he was read two more charges, to which he pleaded not guilty. Peters was accused of being found with seven grammes of cannabis and seven .38 rounds of ammunition in his possession on June 10th, 2015, at Bagotstown.

Another youth, Kurtis Vasconcellos, 21, of 22 First Street, Agricola, was charged on Thursday with shooting at Khan and robbing him.

Dwayne Peters
Dwayne Peters
Kurtis Vasconcellos
Kurtis Vasconcellos

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru on Thursday had said that Khan and a friend were in front of a snackette in Grove when they were attacked by four youths who arrived on motorcycles.

They attacked the complainant and relieved him of his jewellery, shooting him in his right arm in the process, Mangru said.

The victim, a licensed firearm holder, retaliated and fired several shots in the direction of the men, the prosecutor added, while noting that Vasconcellos was shot to his neck and arm. Another perpetrator was shot and died on spot.

In relation to the other charges, the prosecution’s case is that while acting on information, police officers stopped Peters on a motorcycle and carried out a search that uncovered the ammunition in one of his pockets and the cannabis in his pants’ crotch.

The prosecution objected to bail given the seriousness of the offences.

Like Vasconcellos before him, Peters was denied bail and was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. His next court date is June 30th. , 2015.