A TWENTY-ONE- year-old man was on Friday charged for the murder of an eight-month old child in January. The man, Nigel Dodson, of Fourth Field, Kanewille, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was not required to plead to the capital offence when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.According to the charge, on January 23, 2017, while in the company of others, Dodson in the process of, during or after an arson, murdered eight-month old Romain Seth. Dodson was represented by Attorneys Trenton Lake and Darren Wade.
Lake told the court that his client was arrested on February 2 and was held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Sparendaam Police Station until the case was called before the court. He argued that the holding of Dodson at the two locations was a violation of his rights.
Additionally, Lake said his client was forced to sign documents, though he advised him against so doing because he is illiterate.
Meanwhile, Michelle Menezes, grandmother of Seth, said her family had been threatened by persons within the neighbourhood. She was accused of “snitching” on Dodson and his gang to the police, which resulted in frequent raids of the neighbourhood for guns and drugs.
The woman had reported to the police that she found a gun stashed in a tree in her backyard, allegedly by Dodson; her yard was used as a shortcut to another street.
The matter has been adjourned to February 17.