THE Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Jason De Florimonte, allegedly by a Subryanville hotelier continued on Wednesday before Magistrate Judy Latchman; two witnesses testified.

The accused, Erwin Bacchus, 45, owner of the Tourist Villa was initially charged with manslaughter, but on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), he is now charged with murder.

The allegation is that on August 4, 2018, at Subryanville, Bacchus murdered De Florimonte, 30.

Terrence Newsum, the handy man who was employed at the hotel testified in the matter; Alvin Leitch, who was an employee at the hotel, also testified and was cross- examined by Bacchus’ attorney.

The next hearing will be on October 26, 2018. According to reports, on the day in question at about 01:30 hrs, De Florimonte had a misunderstanding with his girlfriend in front of the hotel; Bacchus’ handyman, who was standing at the hotel’s gate, intervened.

In the ensuing exchange between the two men, the handyman reportedly ran into the hotel with De Florimonte in hot pursuit, whereupon Bacchus, a licensed firearm holder who was on the premises at the time, shot him (De Florimonte) dead.