Senior Magistrate Leron Daly has recused herself from presiding over the Preliminary Inquiry into the murder charge against Ashaka John, who is accused of strangling a man to death during a robbery at Church Street, in Georgetown.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan transferred the case to Magistrate Daly to conduct the PI.
However, when the matter was brought before her on Thursday, Daly explained that she would not be dealing with it and cited a number of reasons. The matter was subsequently transferred back to court of the Chief Magistrate, who is expected to reassign the matter to another magistrate.
John, 24, of Lot 109 ‘A’ Field, Sophia, was not required to plead to the indictable charge that on October 12th, 2019, at Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, he murdered Jason Bowen.
In a statement, the police said the attack occurred at around 9.38 pm in front of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Church Street.
According to a security guard, the suspect and the now deceased man were seen scuffling and the suspect wrapped a belt around the victim’s neck and strangled him. The suspect was apprehended by public-spirited citizens and handed over to the police.
The security guard, who works at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, told Stabroek News that she was in the hut when she heard a man calling out for help. “I turn off the light and was inside the hut. But I hear a man hollering ‘Security! Security! He robbing me.
