Kuribrong shopkeeper charged with murdering customer after credit row

Mark Jacobus
Mark Jacobus

A shopkeeper was remanded to prison yesterday after he was charged with murdering a customer, who allegedly pulled a gun on him.

Troy Wharton, 46, called ‘Strongy,’ was charged with the crime when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Wharton was not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that on May 31st, 2019, at Kuribrong Landing, Potaro River, he murdered Mark Jacobus.

Troy Wharton

Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels told the court that Jacobus was drinking at Wharton’s shop when an argument ensued between them because Wharton refused to give Jacobus credit from the shop. According to Daniels, Wharton told the police that upon being denied the credit, Jacobus pulled out a gun from his waistband and advanced towards him. Wharton then armed himself with a cutlass and dealt Jacobus several chops about his body.

Daniels told the court that Jacobus was in an unconscious state when he was picked up and rushed to the Troy Resources Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The magistrate subsequently remanded Wharton to prison and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for June 14th, 2019.