LLOYDON Briton, also known as Lloydy, of 77 Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was remanded to prison by Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday when he appeared before her to answer to a murder charge.

Assisted by a relative, Briton made his way into the courtroom, and was assisted by two police officers, who hoisted him on a chair and placed him next to the dock with him saying, “Don’t touch meh side!”
The 20-year-old accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge that, on Friday, July 26, at Georgetown, he murdered Elvis Fernandez, a human being.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Peter Hugh, representing the accused, told the court that Briton was forced to place his thumb print on a confession statement. He contended that Briton’s thumb was forcibly taken and placed on a paper that had writing, and his client was not aware of what was written on the paper.
He added that Briton has a pending matter at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, and his reputed wife is expecting their first child.
Given opportunity to speak, the accused told the court that an officer held his finger and pressed it on the paper, and he pointed to an officer who was wearing a cream shirt in court as the rank who had so done.
Magistrate Latchman asked the said officer to stand and give his name. The rank stated his name as 17992 Detective Constable Marshall.
According to the accused he is being framed for the incident.
His defence lawyer added that there was an ink discoloration that remains on his client’s thumb.
Magistrate Latchman got up from her bench, in company of Sergeant Hunt, to check for the stain on Briton’s finger, but declared she could not see any sign of ink on his finger.
Prosecutor Sergeant Vishnu Hunt said that, at this junction, he is not fully aware if there is any caution statement. He also indicated that he had been instructed that Briton’s statement made in open court was a mere allegation against Detective Marshall.
However, Magistrate Latchman asked the investigating rank who had sworn to the truth of the information if there was any confession statement in the matter, and she responded in negative.
Hence bail was refused, and the accused will return to court on September 5 for report.