JUSTICE Jo-Ann Barlow is today expected to sum up the evidence in the trial of Neville Forde, who is accused of murdering Sophia bread vendor Andre Melroy Alexander in 2017.
Last month, Forde had denied that on May 5, 2017, in the County of Demerara, he murdered Alexander in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
The state is being represented by prosecutor Lisa Cave, while Forde is represented by attorney-at-law Ronald Daniels.
Previously, the prosecution and defence had given their closing statements. The judge then adjourned the case until July 26 for her summation.
Following the summing up at the Demerara High Court, the judge will hand over the case to the 12-member jury, who will retire to consider the verdict.
In 2019, Forde was tried for the capital offence alongside former co-accused Shaquelle Grant called ‘Soldier Man,’ before Justice Navindra Singh.
However, Grant was freed after the judge upheld a no-case submission in his favour. The jury was unable to arrive at a verdict against Forde.
According to reports, on the said date, Alexander was at his bread stand at Dennis Street, Sophia, when two men rode up on a motorcycle. The pillion rider requested three loaves of bread and paid with a $5,000 note.
While Alexander was in the process of making the change, the same pillion rider whipped out a gun and demanded cash.
When the man put up a fight, the robber discharged two rounds, one of which struck Alexander in the stomach.
The robbers relieved Alexander of his cash and also escaped with the three loaves of bread. Alexander died the very night during surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
