STAFFIAN Hopkinson Alexander, one of the prime suspects in last Wednesday’s robbery at a Mahaicony supermarket was yesterday charged for the murder of Linden businesswoman, Shevon Gordon, while also being indicted on four armed robbery charges along with one of attempted murder. Alexander also known as Anthony Williams and ‘Gun Youth’ of Lot 30 Laing Avenue West Ruimveldt made his first appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on the spate of criminal offences.
The 32-year was nabbed a few days ago at Mahaicony on the East Coast Demerara, following the armed robbery at J. Singh and Sons Supermarket. The stolen car he and two other alleged accomplices were using in their getaway crashed into a trench at Fairfield, Mahaica a few miles away.
‘Gun Youth’ was charged indictable on all four counts of armed robberies which occurred on November 4 at La Raisonable, Mahaicony. The court heard that while being in the company of others, he held up the 45-year old business woman, Lakranie Singh at gun point and stole her $3M Toyota IST, a quantity of jewelry, Digicel and GTT phone cards, DVR player, a Blackberry phone and tablet –all totaling $4,367,000.
He was also charged for robbing the woman ‘s employees, who were there at the time of the robbery. Josada Singh lost over $19,000 in personal items and cash while at the same time the men relieved her co-workers Roopnarine Singh and Natasha Bobb of a total of $254,080 worth in cellular phones, jewelry along with local and U.S. currency.
The Laing Avenue resident was remanded on the supermarket robbery also and the matter was transferred to the Mahaicony Magistrates’ Court for November 18.
The gang’s getaway plan hit a snag when the driver crashed into a trench at Zeeland, a few miles away. The bandits, sensing that they were being followed, quickly exited the car and bolted into the nearby backlands. Alexander was the first to be captured. The two other suspects were held on Thursday after police ranks set fire to a bushy area where the gunmen were hiding.
One of the bandits, a 21-year old labourer from Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, was shot in the right shoulder while a 51-year-old man from Charlestown, received several shotgun pellets to his face. He is likely to lose an eye.
Additionally, Alexander was charged for the attempted murder of taxi driver Curtis Thom who was shot in Laing Avenue on March 23, 2015. Alexander is said to have discharged a loaded firearm at the driver who was in his yard after returning home from work in the wee hours of the morning. The accused was not required to plea to the charge. He was remanded until December 10, and the matter will remain at the Georgetown Court.