Five found guilty of Corentyne phone card dealer’s murder

The five men accused of murdering Danian Jagdeo, a phone card distributor, on February 8, 2017, at Adventure, Corentyne, during a robbery were this afternoon  found guilty following a trial at the High Court in Berbice.

Mark Dhuman, of Lot 109 Nigg Settlement, Corentyne; Abdullah Azimullah, also known as “Sato”, a cattle farmer of Lot 183 Hampshire Village, Zahir Abdul, also known as Marlon, polo or gold teeth”, a cane harvester, of New Scheme, Adelphi Village, East Canje, Shannon Batson, of Rose Hall Corentyne, and Satesh Budhram, also known as “Baba”, a painter of Lot 70 C Hampshire Village, Corentyne, were on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon since February, 2022.

After the summing up today, the jury then went into deliberations and returned with a guilty verdict for each of the five men just around 3.40 pm.

Justice Kissoon after the verdict ordered probation reports be prepared for each of the accused.

The men will return to court on June, 10, at 9 am for sentencing.

On February 8, 2017, Jagdeo, 36, of Lot 12 Section G, King’s Street, Williamsburg Village, Corentyne, left his home before the crack of dawn to ply his trade as a phone card distributor. Jagdeo, who supplied phone cards to store owners on the entire Corentyne up to Crabwood Creek, was making a stop at a shop located on the main road of Adventure, Corentyne around 3:30 pm when a man wearing a hat to hide his face entered.

Jagdeo became suspicious and asked the shopkeeper if she knew the man. She said no and the man then whipped out a gun and fired a shot.

According to reports, a scuffle ensued between Jagdeo and the gunman, who shot him twice. The bandit then grabbed Jagdeo’s bag and ran outside, where his accomplice, who wore a full-face helmet, was waiting for him on the stolen motorcycle. The two men rode to Friendship, Corentyne, where they left the motorcycle and were then picked up by a silver-coloured car. The men then drove to Springlands, Corentyne but then turned around and proceeded back to Rose Hall Town.

The five were accused were later arrested and charged with Jagdeo’s murder.

According to an autopsy, Jagdeo died due to shock and haemorrhaging.