Man remanded for murder of Trans Guyana employee

A 42-year-old man was on Wednesday remanded to prison for the murder of Ronald Smith, who was gunned down during a robbery on Camp Street, Georgetown, last month.

Allister Naughton of East La Penitence Squatting Area, Georgetown, appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plea to the capital offence, which alleged that on May 28, 2021, at Camp Street, he murdered Smith, during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

The Chief Magistrate remanded Naughton to prison until July 6, 2021.

According to reports, on the day in question, Smith, 40 – a maintenance and baggage handler at Trans Guyana Airways – was travelling around the city, conducting business. He was in the company of a gold miner, who was driving him in a motor car, PZZ 6065.

It was reported that Smith made a sale of gold and placed the $437,000 cash he received in a haversack and went to visit his girlfriend. After that visit, Smith and his girlfriend were standing in front of the Impeccable Beauty salon on Camp Street, when they were confronted by two suspects who came from an unknown direction on a motorcycle.

It was further related that the rider dismounted the motorcycle and discharged two rounds at Smith. When Smith fell to the ground, his haversack was taken away by the shooter. Subsequently, the shooter and his accomplice escaped north on Camp Street. Smith was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.

An examination of his body revealed that there were three gunshot wounds – one to his upper left shoulder, one to the middle region of the belly and one under the right armpit area.