‘Ratty’ pleads not guilty to 2017 murder of minibus driver

Orwin Peters, called ‘Ratty,’ was on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Jo Ann Barlow for the capital offence of murder over the death of Tedroy James, a minibus driver who was shot dead in 2017.

The charge against Peters stated that on July 11, 2017, at Georgetown, he murdered James called ‘Six Head’, in the course or furtherance of a robbery. The murder accused pleaded not guilty.

A 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the case. His trial will commence on Wednesday at the Demerara High Court.

Peters is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels while State Counsel Cicelia Corbin is leading the prosecution’s case.

James, a Route 32 minibus driver and a resident of Suddie Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was shot dead around noon on the day in question at McDoom, Greater Georgetown, as he attempted to drive away from two men who robbed several passengers on his bus.

The injured man, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was driving his minibus, BTT 976 and had stopped to put off a passenger at McDoom.

As a passenger was about to disembark the vehicle, two males, including one armed with a handgun, pounced on the unsuspecting passengers and began to rob them, Police had reported.

James observed what was happening and attempted to drive away but was shot. After being shot, he continued driving but collapsed.