2 guards in court for murder

TWO men who once worked as security guards for a relative of  Khalid Mohammed, known as “Uncle Khalid,” yesterday appeared before a Princes Town magistrate charged with the murder of Khalid’s wife, Mala. Sheldon Reid, 33, a member of the Jamaat al Muslimeen and Dwayne Swan, 23, both of Five Rivers, Arouca, appeared before Magistrate Jai Narine. The magistrate read the charge separately to both men — alleging that on a date unknown sometime between May 9 and 11, 2004, “you did murder Mala Mohammed at Edward Street, Princes Town.” Mala Mohammed, 45, the wife of Khalid — grocery proprietor of High Street, Princes Town — was shot dead around 11 pm, minutes after she drove into the garage at her home. Khalid Mohammed was abroad at the time.

The accused men were charged by Insp Fitzgerald George over the weekend, after their arrest last Tuesday. They were arrested in front of the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court. At yesterday’s hearing, Khalid was not in the courtroom for the appearance of the accused men because he was reportedly in Miami on business. At the time of his wife’s death, Khalid had offered a $50,000 reward for anyone with information about persons who had committed the act. Mala’s father, Phoolchan Pooran, attended the hearing yesterday. Attorney Richard Valere, who represented Reid and Swan, called on the magistrate to begin the preliminary inquiry.

Acting Sgt Zamsheed Mohammed, the court’s police prosecutor, said the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the matter because arrangements would have to be made to appoint a State attorney. Valere then noted that preferences were given to cases in other courts, and that the same should be done in this matter. In turning down the attorney’s request, Narine said he had no control of what occurs in other courts. Valere requested that the prosecution make all the disclosures in the case available to him. Narine then advised Valere to write a letter to the DPP requesting the disclosures. The magistrate remanded the two accused men into custody and postponed the matter to March 3.