Maryann Daby freed of attempted murder charge
FREED Maryann Daby
FREED Maryann Daby

MONTHS after 26-year-old Maryann Daby was charged for attempting to murder a police officer, she was cleared from the offence by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, due to insufficient evidence.

The Magistrate ruled in favour of a no-case submission made by attorney-at-law, Mark Waldron, who contended that police Prosecutor Richard Harris did not make out a sufficient case, during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

Waldron had made a no-case submission on the grounds that, the victim, Kissoon, did not identify Daby as the shooter, and that the gun she was alleged to have used was not tendered in court.

It was alleged that, on May 13, 2018, at Albert Street, Thomas Lands, Daby discharged a firearm at Police Constable, Christopher Kissoon, with intent to commit murder.
The two other charges with which she was slapped alleged that, on the same day, she had in her possession a .32 pistol and six matching rounds of ammunition for which she was not licensed to carry.

The Magistrate based her ruling on the grounds that the victim Christopher Kissoon, along with a key witness, Constable John Holder and Superintendent of Police Gary McAllister did not give credible evidence during the PI.

Kissoon did not identify Daby as his shooter in court; neither was any surveillance footage tendered, purporting to show that there was a shooting on the day in question.
Meanwhile, Constable John Holder who testified during the PI was not consistent with his statements. There was much deviation.

Holder, under oath, admitted that he did not see Daby discharge the firearm; nor did he see her aim same at Kissoon. Also, he had no knowledge of what caused an explosion.
He had initially told investigators that he was present when he saw Daby pulling out a firearm from her purse and firing in the air and also placing same to the forehead of Kissoon.

As it related to the evidence of McAllister, he testified in court and brought an evidence bag with a .32 pistol with six matching rounds, which was allegedly taken from Daby.

However, in another court hearing, when McAllister brought the evidence bag to court again, he showed the court a .32 pistol with four matching rounds along with two .22 spent shells. Due to this variation, the firearm and ammunition were not tendered in court.
The Magistrate, in closing, explained that it was due to the inconsistencies that she discharged the attempted murder matter against Daby.

Police Prosecutor, Richard Harris, requested that the two firearm matters be transferred to the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan since it would be prejudicial for the matters to be tried in the same court.

Magistrate Daly acknowledged the prosecutor’s application and adjourned the matter until July 30, 2019, for a report.

Daby, 26, the Finance Manager of United Commodities, was out on $750,000 High Court bail during the PI.

The incident reportedly occurred in the compound of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) at Thomas Lands.

According to the police, on the day in question, Constable Kissoon had cause to approach Daby after she was seen firing shots in the air, and as he drew near, she placed the gun to his forehead and promptly pulled the trigger. Fortunately for him, the gun was empty.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.