Ruimveldt pair plead guilty to 2021 killing

March 5 2026

Two men from Ruimveldt have accepted responsibility for a deadly attack that claimed the life of a young cyclist in Georgetown four years ago.

Osafi Johnson, 32, and Randy Tafari, 25, appeared before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court where they formally pleaded guilty to the killing of 29-year-old Nicholas Layne, also known as “Daddy.”

The prosecution outlined that the events unfolded in the early hours of March 28, 2021, after Layne parked his bicycle near a snackette and joined a small gathering of people playing cards at the corner of High and Hadfield Streets.

When he later realised his bicycle had gone missing, he began searching for it and walked in the direction of Brickdam.

Sometime between 3:00 am and 4:00 am, Layne was seen running back toward the same group while being chased by Johnson and Tafari, both armed with bladed weapons.

A woman was also reportedly present during the pursuit. Witnesses observed Layne bleeding and asking for help before fleeing again along High Street and into Leopold Street, where he collapsed.

The two accused caught up with him and carried out a violent assault, inflicting multiple wounds before leaving him motionless on the roadway.

They attempted to stop a passing vehicle but failed, and later fled the area. Police intercepted them shortly after in Charlestown and took them into custody.

Layne was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Subsequent investigations included the recovery of CCTV footage from nearby businesses, which captured key moments leading up to and including the attack.

A post-mortem examination revealed 17 incised wounds to Layne’s body. The cause of death was determined to be shock and severe blood loss resulting from multiple injuries.

The court has adjourned the matter to March 16, 2026, to allow for probation reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing.