“Satan” found not guilty of Ann’s Grove teen’s murder

Alvin Reid, the 37-year-old Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man who was accused of murdering a teen girl, has been found not guilty of the crime by a jury.

Reid called “Satan” had been on trial for the capital offence of murder before Demerara High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramall and a mixed 12-member jury.

Following deliberations on Tuesday, the jury found him not guilty. Reid was accused of murdering 14-year-old Malika Hamilton between August 8 and 9, 2016.

Throughout his trial, Reid was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Konyo Sandiford-Holder and Iyanna Butts. The case was prosecuted by State Counsel Muntaz Ali, State Counsel Simran Gajraj and State Counsel Taneisha Saygon.

While awaiting trial for the girl’s murder, Reid was mistakenly released from prison for another offence in 2019. It was reported that he had been found not guilty on a lesser charge and prison officials, unaware that he was awaiting trial, released him.

He was only recaptured last month. At the time of his arrest, Police reported that he had injuries to his abdomen and a suspected gunshot wound to his back.

Hamilton and Reid were known to each other as they lived in the same neighbourhood. It was reported that she left home on August 8, 2016 following an argument over the phone with her father. But she never returned and a search party was formed.

Days later, the body of Hamilton, a student of Hope Secondary School, was pulled out from the Hope Canal ECD. She was bleeding through her ears and her neck was broken.