Shaeed Mohammed, called “Max”, was on Tuesday remanded to prison for the brutal murder of seven-year-old Adriel Aftab Mohamed, who was killed during a home invasion last Friday.
Mohammed, a 23-year-old farmer of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on June 5, 2026, at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, he murdered the child during the course of a robbery at the family’s home.
The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
Following a brief court appearance, he remanded Mohammed to prison and adjourned the matter until July 20, 2026.
The charge was instituted after police investigators sought and obtained legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mohammed was arrested on Saturday, less than 24 hours after the murder, following what police described as an intensive investigation involving digital evidence, CCTV footage and forensic leads.
According to police, investigators confronted the suspect with digital evidence placing him at the crime scene at the time of the attack. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum later disclosed that the suspect reportedly confessed after being unable to explain the evidence.
Police said the suspect also identified a knife recovered at the scene as the weapon used in the attack.
Investigators further revealed that the accused admitted entering another nearby property before targeting the home where Adriel lived, but abandoned that attempt after hearing movement inside the house.
The murder occurred during the early hours of June 5 at Phase Three, Zeelugt Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.
Adriel was found dead inside the home, while his 72-year-old great-grandmother, Halima Itwari, was seriously injured during the attack and rushed to hospital, where she remains under medical care.
The child’s death triggered widespread outrage and grief across Guyana, with residents, government officials and community leaders expressing condolences and calling for justice.
Police investigations are continuing.
