Friends, family protest robbery/murder charge against Travis McDougell

TWENTY-four-year-old, Travis McDougell of Lot 422 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown appeared on Friday before Georgetown Magistrate Fabio Azore charged with murdering Ashookoemar Raggbu during the course or furtherance of a robbery committed on the said deceased and his wife, Shyrazadi Raggbu, of property to the value of $4M on Monday, August 18, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question, at around 13:00hrs, the deceased and his wife were driving motor car PGG 8291 along Vlissengen road when the traffic light turned red and caused them to stop at Regent and Vlissengen Road, in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens.

The defendant and another person then drove up on a Honda to the driver’s side of the vehicle and shot the deceased to his chest. The same person that shot the deceased tried to grab the bag with the money, but Shyrazadi Raggbu held onto the bag, and after she was shot, she let go of the bag. Subsequently, the two men rode away with the said bag, making good their escape.

The matter was reported after the couple was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical attention. Ashookoemar Raggbu succumbed to his injuries, but the accused was positively identified at the Brickdam Police Station by Shyrazadi Raggbu, Ashookoemar Raggbu’s wife.

McDougell was represented by attorney-at-law, Ms Kendacie Rodney, who told the court that two named police officers had used an electrical teaser on her client. Rodney said this was reported to her and she would like to inquire from the prosecutor if there is a medical certificate for her client.

She said that if there is no such medical, she would like to request that her client be sent to seek medical attention.

She also said that the matter of the identification parade would be dealt with during the trial.

Prosecutor Michael Grant responded that a medical certificate is there for her client, but it is not at the court. He said he was, however, instructed that nothing had happened to the accused.

The defence counsel then responded that she would like to see a medical report to support what was said by the Prosecutor.

Magistrate Azore remanded Mc Dougell to prison, and instructed that he should return to court on October 6 to appear before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Drama ensued outside of the courtroom, where Travis McDougell’s family members, friends and other relatives staged a protest for his release. A tearful Shaka Chase was present, shouting that the police were doing to his friends the same thing they had done to him when they had charged him with the murder of Police Corporal Cleto on April 27, 2013, but the charge was later dismissed for insufficient evidence.

(With Geeta Rampersaud)