‘GREY BOY,’ the man accused of the shooting death of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, was yesterday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after being found guilty by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge of escaping from lawful custody.Thirty-seven-year old Regan Rodrigues of Riverview Squatting Area, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown wept in court before kissing his elderly mother and making his ways down the court’s steps in shackles.
Rodrigues, however, had the charges of possession of illegal arms and ammunition dismissed against him. He was indicted for escaping from lawful custody on July 13 at Riverview, Ruimveldt while in the custody of Constable 2041 Thomas pending criminal charges for unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
It was also alleged that on the same day, he had in his possession one Taurus pistol and 14 live rounds of ammunition without being a licensed firearm holder.
Magistrate Azore said there was no evidence to show that the defendant had knowledge of the weapons. She noted that the illegal gun was not found in the defendant’s bedroom, but was instead under a chair the police had to lift up.
In addition to that, the defence, during the trial, raised a concern that there was multiple occupancy of the home.
In relation to the guilty verdict of escaping from police custody, it was found that the prosecution had proven that the accused, after being arrested, pushed down one of the ranks and made good his escape. He later turned himself in to the police at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters.
In July of last year, Rodrigues was charged with the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing, who was gunned down on March 10, 2015 while encouraging residents of Diamond New Housing Scheme to cast their votes in the May 11 General and Regional Elections. The former soldier had come to the public’s attention after he had held a one-man demonstration for 80 days in front of the office of the then Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, following revelations of a taped conversation between that official and a senior reporter of the Kaieteur News.
Crum-Ewing was shot five times -– thrice to the head, once to the back of the neck, and once under one of his arms. All the bullets were fired from behind his person and at close range, except the one that hit him under his arm and exited through his shoulder.
Rodrigues is currently on remand, awaiting commencement of this Preliminary Inquiry (PI)
