Passerby shot dead during pharmacy robbery

DIEGO MARTIN resident Mervyn Wright was shot and killed while struggling with a man who attempted to snatch his chain in front of Ultra-Care Pharmacy in Diego Martin on June 3, 2000, according to State Prosecutor Angelica Teelucksingh. This information formed part of Teelucksingh’s opening remarks to the court, including the 12-member jury and three alternates, in the trial in which three men Nigel “Yardy” Matthews, Martin Layne and Grafton “Pecos” Sorzano, are charged with murdering Wright. A fourth person, Kerry Joseph was also charged with the offence. However, he was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony in the trial.

Teelucksingh pointed out that without the evidence of an “accomplice witness” many crimes would remain unsolved and the people committing these crimes would remain unknown. She called on the jury to bear in mind that everyone is presumed innocent unless it is otherwise proven. Around 7.40 pm on June 3, 2000, Joseph, of Barataria, Matthews of Mt Hope, Layne of Barataria and Sorzano of Barataria, met at Eighth Avenue, Barataria, to discuss plans to rob the security guard at Ultra-Care Pharmacy of her firearm. The four men drove to the pharmacy and Matthews and Joseph went inside while the others remained in the vehicle. Matthews reportedly walked up to security guard Marie Douglin and demanded that she hand over her firearm. He then grabbed the gun and threatened to shoot her in her foot. Matthews hit Douglin a blow to her head and she fell to the ground. Wright was walking past the pharmacy when Joseph approached him and grabbed his chain. A struggle ensued.

Matthews came out of the pharmacy and approached the two men with the gun in his hand. Wright was shot and taken to the hospital where he died. The men were later identified by Douglin. Wright’s sister Cheryl Adams, who was called as the first witness, told the court she went to the Forensic Science Centre where she met Pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes and Cpl Henry and identified her brother’s body. Attorneys Joan Charles and Ryan Cameron appeared for Matthews, Devan Rampersad assisted by Aden Stroude is representing Sorzano, while Larry Lalla is representing Layne. The State is being represented by Teelucksingh and Althea Alexis.