…to know fate on May 2 for death of South Central Hotel owner

AS the “South Central Hotel” murder trial came to an end in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury, the accused, Brian Leitch called “Big Foot”, was on Tuesday found guilty of manslaughter for the 2013 killing of hotelier, Joseph Jagdeo.

After several hours of deliberations a mixed jury returned with a not guilty verdict for murder but a unanimous guilty verdict for the lesser count of manslaughter.
However, the defence attorney made an application before the trial judge for a probation report to be prepared in favour of the accused. As such, sentencing was deferred to May 2, 2018 at 09:00hrs.

Following the announcement, the 24-year-old accused of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was led away in shackles and handcuffs, crying along with his relatives.

According to the State’s case, between November 13 and 14, 2013 the accused Brian Leitch called “Big Foot” murdered hotelier Joseph Jagdeo called “Joey”, at the latter’s place of business – South Central Hotel located on South Road.

In his opening address, state prosecutor Mandel Moore told the court that between November 13 and 14, 2013 the accused murdered the deceased and stuffed his body under a bed.

Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh testified last week and gave the cause of death as haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head, compounded by suffocation and compression to the neck.

The State was represented by Mandel Moore and Lisa Cave, while the defence attorneys were Lawrence Harris and Hewley Griffith.