In a majority verdict of 10-2 on manslaughter, a jury yesterday acquitted Mark Louchee of the 2003 killing of Collis De Abreu who police had said he shot outside the Blue Iguana nightclub.
Louchee had been charged with murder for which the jury also unanimously found him not guilty. Following hours of deliberations yesterday afternoon, the forewoman announced their majority verdict on the lesser count of manslaughter as well.
Trial Judge Navindra Singh then informed a visibly relieved Louchee who attended his trial virtually from the Lusignan Prison that he had been found not guilty of both offences and was therefore freed.
“I don’t know what happened on that day. You know. But good luck,” the judge told the former accused as he admonished him to stay out of trouble.
Nearly 18 years ago—on September 21st, 2003, De Abreu was shot outside of the Blue Iguana.
A wanted bulletin had been issued for Louchee following the murder back in 2003. He was finally charged 14 years after—in 2017.
He was committed to stand trial on October 29th, 2018.
De Abreu, 36, of Lot 57 Fourth Street, Alberttown, was shot once in the chest and was pronounced dead some 10 minutes after he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment.
Louchee was represented by defence attorney Ravindra Mohabir, while the state’s case was led by Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken.
Stabroek News had previously reported that the shooting occurred after a patron attempted to leave with a glass belonging to the club.
In the process of leaving, the patron was cautioned by the proprietor that he could not take the glass but he refused to listen and instead jumped into a waiting taxi and drove off a little distance from the bar and stopped.
It was further reported that as soon as the car stopped, the patron came out and whipped out his firearm and began shooting indiscriminately, hitting De Abreu and injuring others, including the proprietor.
The injured men reportedly suffered shots in the region of their thighs and hands and were rushed to the hospital where they were treated.
De Abreu’s younger brother had related to this newspaper that he observed the patron and the owner arguing after the patron attempted to leave with the glass but paid them no mind because they were all good friends.
The brother had also stated that after leaving the bar the young man went up to his brother and told him that he heard he was messing with his girl and discharged a single gunshot at him and a few more in the air.
According to the brother, Collis attempted to run away but the patron gave chase and when Collis attempted to scale a fence in hopes of escaping he collapsed.
He noted that when the gunman returned to the bar, he ordered a handyman to sweep away the warheads and he complied. The gunman then climbed onto his motorcycle and sped away. Upon his departure, friends of Collis returned to the scene and took him to the hospital.
