FORMER murder accused, Kevin France, was remanded to prison on Tuesday by City Magistrate Leron Daly after he was charged with attempted murder and two counts of robbery under-arms.
France, 29, a taxi driver of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charges. It is alleged that on October 28, 2016, at Water Street, Georgetown, France unlawfully and maliciously wounded Quacy Joseph, with intent to murder him.

Joseph,who is a security guard attached to the Electronics City branch on Water Street,was shot during a robbery which took place within the store located in the Fogarty’s building.
It is further alleged that France, on October 12, 2016, at Church Street, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Bibi Jahbar of $6,000 cash.
He is also accused of robbing Roopnarine Budhoo of $800,000,while being armed with a gun and in the company of others. During a bail application, France’s attorney,Patrice Henry,explained that his client was kept in police custody since February 14, 2017, pending police investigation.

The attorney further told the court that the police had arrested France and told him of an allegation of robbery committed on the East Coast of Demerara.
According to Henry, after the police realized that they did not have sufficient evidence to charge France, they kept him in custody for an additional 72 hours.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Bharat Mangru,strongly opposed the defendant being released on bail since there is a likelihood he might not return to court if granted his pre-trial liberty.
The Prosecutor argued that another person, who was charged and is currently on remand for the same three charges, has implicated France in the crimes. Mangru further disclosed that France is currently being investigated for a series of other robberies.

As such, bail was refused and France was remanded until March 13, when he will return to court for the commencement of his trial for the charge of attempted murder. He is slated to return to court again on March 20, to deal with the armed robbery charges.
In August 2015, France had a murder charge dismissed against him in the Magistrates’ Court, while his co-accused Randolph Marques, was committed to stand trial at the High Court.
The men were jointly accused of killing 57-year-old Bharrat Ramcharran, a Patsan Trading Services salesman who was gunned down during a robbery in front of his work place on the afternoon of April 24, 2014.