Bartica gold dealers killing…
A POLICEMAN from the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) and his brother, together with an ex-immigration officer and a woman were all remanded to prison yesterday on charges related to the recent murders of two gold dealers at Bartica.
The accused, who appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry, included Rawle Newton, who faced a murder and two robbery under arms charges.
He pleaded not guilty to the robbery charges, which stated that, on August 14, being armed with a gun, he robbed Justin Gilkes of $47,000, and on the same date, also robbed Arnold Hoppy of a quantity of gold and diamond jewellery valued a total of $2.1M.
Newton was not required to plead to the unlawful killing charges, which said, between September 4 and 5, at Bartica, he murdered Ramdeo Deonarine and Jainarine Raghubar.
At the request of Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, the charges against Newton were transferred to Bartica Court for October 25 and 27.
Michael Newton (no address given either) is accused of having, between September 5 and 16, at Bartica, received, relieved, comforted, assisted and maintained his sibling, Rawle Newton, knowing that he had murdered Deonarine and Raghubar.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Gordon Gilhuys, for Michael Newton, made a failed bail application, disclosing that the Police went to the home of the latter and seized articles they suspect are proceeds of a robbery.
The Prosecutor, objecting, said the accused is likely to flee the jurisdiction if he secures the grant.
The lawyer submitted that Michael Newton is not charged with a capital offence and the law permits pre-trial freedom in his case but the application was denied and the prisoner will have to make his next appearance on October 27, as well.
Police Constable Marlon Letlow, 24, of Lot 23 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara and ex-immigration officer Linden Scott (no address given) were also remanded.
The allegations against them is that between September 5 and 15, in Georgetown, they received, relieved, comforted, assisted and maintained Rawle Newton knowing that he murdered Deonarine and Raghubar.
Mr. Nigel Hughes represented Letlow while Mr. Vic Puran entered appearance for Scott and their bail applications were refused.
Hughes said Letlow has been a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for seven years and evidence will prove that he did not commit any offence.
He is not a flight risk neither will he interfere with any witnesses, said Hughes.

REASONABLE  EVIDENCE

Puran, in his submission, said that before anyone is remanded to prison, the Court must know that there is reasonable evidence to establish that he committed the act.
“The Police are looking for kudos that they arrested the men in a high profile case but what they actually did was to pin an allegation against my client,” he asserted.
Telford said the accused are friends and, having received information that Rawle Newton murdered the gold dealers, they confronted him and took $1.4M and a gold chain, which were part of the booty taken from the deceased.
The Prosecutor said the two accused later requested a motor car and an additional $2M from Rawle Newton, so as to avoid him being prosecuted for the offence he, allegedly, committed.
Telford said a sting operation was set up and it resulted in the arrest of Letlow and Scott.
The Prosecutor said Letlow had the responsibility to execute his duties whether he was on duty or not but, like Scott, failed to take necessary legal action.
Hughes said the Prosecutor’s facts do not correspond with what Letlow is accused of committing.
Hughes said what the Prosecutor narrated related to extortion.
He said Letlow was in custody since last week Wednesday and the Police had enough time to get advice and those who framed the charge did not know that it did not correspond with the Police facts.
Puran said the Police failed at the elementary stage and he called for the case to be thrown out, on the basis that the Police did not bring a reasonable one before the Court.
The magistrate deferred her decision on bail for later but, on the resumption, both Letlow and Scott were sent on remand until October 4.
The reputed wife of Rawle Newton, Kim Bunbury, 39, was also refused pre-trial freedom until October 4,
The woman, of Lot 119 Caesar Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, is alleged to have, between September 5 and 14, in Georgetown, received, relieved, assisted, comforted and maintained Rawle Newton knowing that he murdered Deonarine and Raghubar.
The Prosecutor said Bunbury lives with the alleged murder accused and after he had done the killing, he gave her large sums of money, with which she purchased household articles.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Peter Hugh, for her, claimed the woman bought the merchandise with her own money and she no longer shares a relationship with Newton.
Deonarine and Raghubar were murdered between September 4 and 5 in a house where they, usually, conduct trade in gold at Lot 84 Second Avenue, Bartica.