co-accused freed
Following recent legal proceedings, Ezekiel Hawker, one of the two suspects implicated in the murder case of Deon Charles, was deemed fit to face trial, while his co-accused was discharged.
Hawker, also known as ‘Alpha’, 21 of Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown and Mickel Forde, a 33-year-old taxi driver of Critchlow Street, Tucville, Georgetown were jointly charged in 2022 in connection with the execution-style killing of Charles, 28. It is alleged that, on December 24, 2021, they murdered the East La Penitence, Georgetown resident called ‘Dede’.
Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt, Forde’s attorneys, submitted a no-case submission at the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against their client. Forde was discharged after Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Magistrate Rhondel Weever, who presided over the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), upheld the no-case submission made on his behalf.
Forde’s lawyers contended that there was no forensic evidence, no video evidence, no direct evidence or confession statement that linked their client to the crime.
Based on the information provided by the lawyers, it was clear that Forde, being a taxi driver, remained in his car and had no knowledge of the events that unfolded.
“There was no evidence produced by the prosecution that proved otherwise,” they submitted.
His lawyers argued that Forde should not have faced charges to begin with.
Hawker, on the other hand, was committed to stand trial by a jury before a Judge at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. This was after Magistrate Weever ruled that a prima facie case was made out against him by the prosecutor. This murder accused is currently on remand. Hawker was represented by attorney Edrianna Stephens.
Investigations revealed that Charles was standing on the southern side of James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown when a white Toyota 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 (GPHC), where he pronounced him dead on arrival.
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 on December 26, 2021.
It has been reported that, while under caution, Hawker acknowledged shooting Charles following a longstanding feud.
