Berbice youth freed of killing security guard

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

FREED: Andy Adams (left) and his Defence lawyer, Joel Persid-Edmond.

A now 24-year old man, who was accused of killing a security guard six years ago, was Thursday freed of murder and manslaughter in the Berbice High Court.

Andy Adams of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice was freed when a mixed jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts in the court presided by Justice Navindra Singh.

Adams was accused of killing 56-year old Nizamudeen Khan who was working at the Rosignol Sawmill on July 20, 2007. The short facts of the case were that Adams, who had been working at the sawmill at the time, had gone out with several friends. On their return, Khan had refused to open the gate. Moments later when Khan opened the gate, he and Adams and company fought.

Adams blamed his co-accused, Sebastian Clato, who was killed in a prison unrest on May 1, 2011, for Khan’s death.

Denying that he played a role in the killing, Adams said it was Clato and someone else named Cox who had disagreements with Khan and he had merely attempted to part the altercation.

Defence lawyer, Joel Persid-Edmond urged the jury to disbelieve the evidence because the prosecution could not have stated where was Clato or prove which blow killed the security guard.

State Prosecutor, Judith Gildharie-Mursalin countered by saying that the Persid-Edmond did not lead evidence to prove that anyone else had struck Khan. She also questioned why only now Adams was saying that it was Clato and Cox who had struck the victim. The prosecutor charged that Adams was now blaming a dead man.

Four members of the Guyana Police Force were the prosecution’s witnesses. Adams did not produce any witness.