Manslaughter charge upgraded to murder for ‘$700’ mechanic
Almost two months after a mechanic was charged with manslaughter for unlawfully killing a man over $700, the charge was on Thursday upgraded to murder following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The accused, Kester Lewis made his second court appearance on Thursday before the Chief Magistrate who informed him of the new charge.
The Magistrate then withdrew the manslaughter charge against Lewis and read the murder charge to him.
Lewis was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on December 29, last, at D’Urban Street, Lodge, he murdered 29-year-old David Barclay.
The man who was previously granted bail for manslaughter has now been remanded to prison until the hearing and determination of the Preliminary Inquiry.
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 over the said payment and During the argument, 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 crashed 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. He was a father of two.
