THIRTY-year-old Shawn Harris was on Thursday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of a man who was stabbed in the vicinity of the Blue Martini Night Club in Kitty.

Harris, called ‘Bruck-up’ of Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was on trial before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore for the capital offence which alleged that on February 5, 2017 at Owen Street, Kitty, he murdered Sunil Singh called ‘Grey’.

He was represented by attorney-at-law, Paul Fung-a-Fat, during the preliminary inquiry into the matter. According to reports, patrol ranks went to the Blue Martini and closed the club about 2:45hrs on February 5, 2017 after which they left.
However, shortly after, it is alleged by Charles Valenzuela, an employee of the nightspot, that three men arrived and wanted to enter the club.

At that point in time, the young man informed them that the club was closed and this resulted in an argument, during which one of the men stabbed Valenzuela to his left arm. Singh, who was present at the time, intervened and was trying to make peace when the suspect dealt Singh a lash to his head. Singh then reportedly ran north into Railway Street, Kitty, and was pursued by his attacker, who caught up with him and stabbed him several times.

Both Singh and Valenzuela were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival and Valenzuela was treated and sent away.
Harris was released from prison in 2016 after serving a sentence on a drug charge; he was also charged in connection with the  Bank of Baroda robbery committed at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara on January 22, 2016.

In July 2017, Harris was among the 13 prisoners who escaped from the Lusignan Prison. All the prisoners were later re-arrested and charged for escaping. Harris was sentenced to one year’s jail for the charge.