Recaptured murder accused charged with two more killings

Recaptured murder accused Stafrei Alexander was yesterday faced with two new murder charges, including killing his former co-accused, when he was arraigned in a city court.

Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander
Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander

Alexander, who had previously been jointly charged with the April, 2015 murder of Linden businesswoman Shevon Gordon, was also charged again yesterday with killing her as well as for escaping from custody.

Alexander, also known as “Anthony Williams” and “Ratty,” who was apprehended on May 14th at the Kurupukari Crossing Checkpoint, Rupununi, was brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who read the charges.

Shevon Gordon
Shevon Gordon

It was alleged that on December 9th, 2015, at Wismar Linden, Alexander murdered Robin Maxwell Thomas, who had been one of the two men jointly charged alongside him with the murder of Gordon.

Thomas was found floating in the Demerara River, one day after they had both escaped from the Mackenzie Police Station. It was initially suspected that he drowned.

Police have said that Alexander has since confessed to hitting Thomas to his head with a piece of wood before throwing him in the river.

Alexander was also charged with the murder of Richard Remington, which was committed between February 9th and February 12th, 2015, at Cholmondeley Hill, Wismar, Linden. The decomposing remains of Remington were found in a clump of bushes along a track in the vicinity of Matthews Lane in the Cholmondeley Hill area on February 12, last year.

He had been shot three times, including once to the head. Two men, Winston Hinds, of Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, and Owen Belfield, 27, of Victory Valley, Linden, have already been charged with the crime, which was allegedly by as many as five.

Meanwhile, Alexander was charged again with murdering Gordon on April 4th, 2015, at 125 One Mile Block 22 Wismar, Linden, in the course or furtherance of a robbery. Alexander and Thomas, along with Adoni Bowen, 26, of Lot 20 Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, had been charged on May 8th last year with the murder of Gordon, who was fatally shot while resisting robbers during an attack outside of her home.

The final charge read to Alexander alleged that between December 7th and December 8th, 2015, at McKenzie Police Station, Linden, while in lawful custody for murder and several counts of robbery, he escaped.

Alexander was not required to plead to any of the four charges read.

When questioned by the Chief Magistrate about his occupation, he told the court that he is self-employed but after further questioning he admitted that he sells marijuana.

He was subsequently remanded to prison by the Chief Magistrate until June 7, when he is due to appear at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.