Refuses special guilty plea offer
FIFTY-five year old Justin John, who is indicted for the murder of his brother Richard John since 2003, yesterday declined an offer to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
In Court yesterday, his counsel Mr. Vidyanand Persaud  was discussing with him the question of plea bargaining which could bring him benefit, when the accused replied with a definite ‘No’ and opted for trial by jury.
The jury is expected to return to Justice Ramlal’s Court on Wednesday next when it is likely the matter will be called up and the accused will plead ‘not guilty’.
The accused of North Rupununi is charged with having on the 18th day of May, 2003 in the county of Essequibo unlawfully killed his brother Richard John.
The accused who was then 48-years-old was not committed to stand trial until December 5, 2008.
Justin was one of the prisoners who had been in prison for a long time awaiting trial and who had requested an early trial.
Before the close of the last sessions and on the occasion of the Jail Delivery, Justin was among those who were invited to court by Justice Roxanne George to ascertain from him why he had been in prison so long without trial. From the answers he gave, the judge recommended that he should be among the first persons to be tried at the current sessions.
The accused who was involved in a rum spree and a fight with his brother on the day in question is contending that he is not guilty.
The matter is scheduled to come up before the jury next week.
State Prosecutor Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin disclosed that she will be conducting the prosecution.