D’Urban Street murder PI winding down
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Neville Jeffers has closed the case for the prosecution in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of David Barclay, the 29-year-old father of two, who was allegedly murdered over a $700 debt.
Charged and currently on remand for his murder is Kester Lewis, a salesman, of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara. Lewis was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on December 29, 2020, at D’Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, he murdered Barclay.
The PI continues on April 26, 2021, when defence counsel is expected to lay over submissions to the court. The matter is being heard before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
On his first court appearance, Lewis was charged with manslaughter and released on bail. However, shortly after, the charge against him was upgraded to murder based on advice from the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to reports, on the night in question, Barclay approached Lewis in a bid to have a tire on his vehicle repaired. In the process of making a payment, an argument ensued between them over the said sum which was short by $700.
It is alleged that during the ordeal, Lewis took a knife and slashed a tire on the now dead man’s car. Lewis thereafter jumped into a vehicle and in the process of driving off, he alleged that Barclay jumped onto the right-side front door and held on to him causing him to lose control and resulting in him crashing into several vehicles that were parked.
Barclay of Triumph, East Coast Demerara, who was lying motionless on the roadway was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
