Renard Caesar and LaShawn Lewis were yesterday jointly charged with attempting to murder ex-policeman Teon Allen and both were further remanded to prison.
Both men had been separately charged with the crime. However, the separate charges were withdrawn and a joint charge was instituted yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The charge now reads that on October 5th, at La Penitence Market, Georgetown, they both, in the company of others and with intent to commit murder, discharged rounds from loaded firearms toward Allen, called ‘Spoil Child.’
Neither man was required to plead to the indictable charge, however attorney-at-law Gordon Gilhuys insisted that his clients were innocent. He also showed the court x-rays of the injuries Lewis obtained during the shootout, which he insisted the man had no part in.
During Lewis’s initial arraignment, Gilhuys had told the court that Lewis sustained a gunshot wound in his spinal area and was unable to walk as a result. He was carried by police officers using a stretcher to the courtroom yesterday because of the injuries. The lawyer added that Lewis has no knowledge of the allegation and was
shot by an unknown person during a shootout at La Penitence Market.
Both men were previously refused bail and they were once again unsuccessful in their application for bail yesterday.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that the two defendants are a part of a gang in Linden. Jeffers also reminded the court that Lewis is the prime suspect in a murder and attempted murder offence which occurred on September 28th at Amelia’s Ward, Linden. On September 28th at Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Eon Williams was shot dead, while his girlfriend, Melita Antigua, was wounded in an attack.
Both defendants were further remanded to prison until November 18th, 2019.
According to police, Allen was purchasing vegetables at La Penitence Market when a black car drove by and one of the occupants pointed at him. According to the information received, three persons, including Caesar, who was armed with a gun, exited the car and discharged several rounds at Allen, who sought refuge after which Caesar and his two accomplices proceeded to escape.
The shooting was subsequently reported to the Criminal Investigation Department after which several checks were made at Caesar’s home. However, the police were unable to arrest Caesar and a wanted bulletin was issued for him. Caesar later turned himself in at the Mackenzie Police Station. He was charged on October 22nd.
On the day of the shooting this newspaper was told that Lewis and two accomplices exited a vehicle in the vicinity of Twins Pharmacy and they allegedly opened fire on a man. Their alleged target managed to escape but not before returning fire and hitting Lewis, who was left lying on the roadway for a while before the police arrived at the scene and he was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
