Trio in court for teen’s murder

Khalid Abdul Malik, 19; Shakeel Hernandez, 19; and Jonathan Lawrence Johnson, 20, stood before Deputy Chief Magistrate Maria Earle Busby-Caddle charged with the murder.

The teens have appeared in court several times since their arrest in 2013, but yesterday’s sitting was the first in which evidence was submitted as the Preliminary Inquiry began.

Prosecutor Angelica Teelucksingh-Ramoutar submitted over ten statements from investigators and witnesses before the court.

Investigating officers Sgt Cornelius Samuel of the Homicide Investigations Bureau (Region II) and former Police Constable, now Regimental Captain Sheldon Quash-Boxhill, were present for testimony but defence attorneys Keston Pope and Abigail Roach-Thomas declined to cross-examine them.

During the opening remarks of the proceedings, attorneys raised issues as to when the date of the second hearing should be scheduled as Pope explained that he would not be in the country until September.

The matter was adjourned to August 14.

The charge alleges that in October 2013, David was chopped and beaten to death.

He was buried in a shallow grave near Maracas Bay.