Man wanted for questioning over Fagundes murder turns self into police

Rondell Bacchus

Rondell Bacchus, 40, who was wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the murder of Ricardo Fagundes on 2021/03/21 at Main Street, Georgetown is now at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

He turned himself into the police.

Fagundes was gunned down  outside of the Palm Court bar on Main Street, Georgetown on April 21. He  was shot about 20 times.

According to the police, Fagundes was having drinks with a colleague in Palm Court when he received a call on his cell phone.

Shortly after exiting Palm Court, the police said several loud explosions were heard. Fagundes was later found lying in a pool of blood on the road. His body bore several gunshots.

In the surveillance footage seen by Stabroek News, Fagundes was seen walking towards a black vehicle, which was parked in front of Palm Court.

As he approached the vehicle, two gunmen emerged from a white car parked on the eastern carriageway of Main Street, ran towards him and opened fire.  After several shots, Fagundes collapsed. However, the gunmen still continued to shoot at him, running to the front of the vehicle where Fagundes lay.

Shortly after, one of the gunmen rushed back to the getaway car. His accomplice, then ran towards Fagundes, stood over him and discharged more rounds before he re-entered the waiting motorcar. The circumstances reflect that there was a `hit’ put out on Fagundes.

The car sped away along Main Street.

 
Sources told Stabroek News that the police recovered 30 rounds at the scene. Sixteen were from an AK-47 rifle while the other fourteen were from a 9mm gun.

On May 22, 2019, Bacchus was sentenced to 16 years, 8 months behind bars, after pleading to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
While he denied the capital charge on which he was originally indicted, Bacchus admitted guilt on the lesser count, accepting that on July 24th, of 2008, he unlawfully shot and killed scrap iron dealer Akbar Alli whom he had robbed of more than $2M.

Particulars of the armed robbery charge on which Bacchus was separately indicted and also pleaded guilty, stated that on the same day, being armed with a gun, he robbed Ali and his wife Bibi Hydar Alli of $2,150,000.
Eleven years were deducted from the sentence for the period of incarceration which meant Bacchus would have still have been required to serve five years. It is unclear when he was released from prison and on what basis.