MUAMMAR Jabbar called ‘Omar’ on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tolasicy Marshall called ‘Tala’, who was fatally stabbed during an altercation nine years ago.

Jabbar, also called Christopher Haynes, 35, of Number 41 Village, Berbice was indicted before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Demerara High Court where a 12-member jury was selected to hear the case.

He pleaded not guilty to the indictment which read that on August 20, 2013, at James Street, Albouystown, he murdered Marshall.

His trial will commence on Monday, June 26, 2023. Attorney-at-law George Thomas is on record for the accused.

It is alleged that Marshall, of Hogg Street, Albouystown, had paid Jabbar a large sum of cash for him to make a gold chain. However, Jabbar did not fulfil the agreement.

The Guyana Chronicle was told back then that Marshall had gone to Jabbar, formerly of James Street, Albouystown, and collected a gold chain, but it weighed less than what he had paid for.
It is alleged that the man confronted Jabbar about the money owed, but this caused a dispute between them.

On August 20, 2013, Jabbar, who was allegedly armed with a knife, confronted Marshall and stabbed him twice to his chest. Jabbar then made good his escape, while Marshall was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he died while receiving treatment.

According to reports, Jabbar was arrested by police in March 2019, under the name of Christopher Haynes, for the armed robbery committed on a 60-year-old cattle and rice farmer and his wife at the couple’s home in Corentyne, Berbice.

He was reportedly nabbed in an abandoned house at Number 72 Village, Corentyne. He later appeared before the Albion Magistrate’s Court, Berbice and was remanded.

It was while on remand that the true identity of the person known as Christopher Haynes began to unravel and the prison authorities discovered that he was Muammar Jabbar, who was wanted for murder.

Ranks of the Major Crimes Unit were alerted about the discovery and Jabbar was then questioned. He then reportedly confessed to the murder.