MORE than a week after 28-year-old Deon Charles called ‘Zip’ was executed while standing on James Street, Albouystown, two men, on Monday, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged for the crime and were both remanded to prison.

Ezekiel Hawker, also known as ‘Alpha’, 19, of Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown and Mikhel Forde, a 31-year-old taxi driver of Critchlow Street, Tucville, were not required to plead to the charge which was read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

It is alleged that, on December 24, 2021, they murdered Charles of East La Penitence.

The Chief Magistrate remanded the men to prison until January 27, 2022.

According to the police, investigations revealed that Charles was standing on the southern side on James Street when a white Axio motorcar with an unknown registration number, allegedly driven by Forde, came from an easterly direction and stopped in front of him.

Hawker approached Charles and a loud explosion suspected to be that of a gunshot was heard.

Charles fell to the ground and Hawker immediately re-entered the car which drove off.

Charles was picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was seen and examined by a doctor who pronounced him dead on arrival,” the police said.

Investigators, after reviewing footage from nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, issued a wanted bulletin for Hawker. He was arrested three days later in Suriname and was later handed over to local authorities.

Forde was arrested at his home by police on December 26.

It is alleged that under caution, Hawker admitted to shooting Charles over an old feud.