GDF Coast Guards on death row moves to Appeal Court
Following a Case Management Conference (CMC) on Monday, the Court of Appeal set March 15, 2020, to hear arguments in the case of three former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guards who are convicted of murder and have been sitting on death row since 2013.
They are Sherwin Hart, Deon Greenidge, and Devon Gordon. In 2013, they were found guilty by a jury of the August 20, 2009 murder of Bartica gold miner Dwieve Kant Ramdass. The former GDF ranks are now looking to have their conviction and sentence quashed.
Media reports are that on the day in question at Caiman Hole in the Essequibo River, they forced the gold miner into their boat. The trio relieved Ramdass of $17 million he was carrying for his employer before dumping him overboard.
Greenidge and Hart are being represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes in association with Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels. Gordon is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat.
On Monday, both lawyers indicated to the court that they will be laying over submissions on the lawfulness of the death penalty. Meanwhile, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dionne McCammon is appearing on behalf of the State.
This appeal will be heard by Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory-Barnes and Rishi Persaud.
