After almost 2 years on the run: “Big John” charged, remanded for Sophia murder

After evading law enforcement officers for almost two years, 40-year-old John Kennedy, called “Big John”, was on Monday, remanded to prison for the murder of a young mechanic.

John, a farmer of 751 Field 8, Section B, Sophia, Greater Georgetown was arraigned before Magistrate Ruschelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that he murdered 21-year-old Jaleel Leow on August 2, 2021. The murder accused was remanded until July 13.

Kennedy was arrested by the Police on June 11 at about 10:00 hrs in the vicinity of Main and Church Street, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

During a search of his person, the Police found a 9MM pistol with no serial number along with 15 9mm live rounds of ammunition. He was also told of the offence of murder committed on Leow.

Leow of Dennis Street, Campbellville, Georgetown was killed around 5.50 pm on the day in question in an attack carried out by two men.

Jaleel Leow

Police had reported that Leow was among a group of persons hanging out with a female shopkeeper at her Sophia residence when two men accosted the woman.

One of the suspects, armed with two cutlasses, asked Leow “Is problem you want?” The suspects then attacked the persons, shooting Leow four times before escaping on their bicycles.

Back in August 2021, the Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Kennedy.

Meanwhile, the murder accused made a virtual appearance at the No. 51 Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to the illegal gun and ammunition charges.

He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on each of the two charges, with the sentences to run concurrently. 

In a brief address to the court, Kennedy said that he was sent to rob someone in Berbice but after seeing that the individual was Muslim, like him, he aborted the plan.