Kaieteur News security guards to stand trial for murdering homeless man

March 18 2026

Five years after a homeless man was found dead with head injuries at a Georgetown newspaper’s premises, two security guards accused of his murder have been ordered to face trial before a judge and jury.

Yan Licorish, 54, and Tony Waldron, 44, were recently committed to stand trial by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts following the conclusion of paper committal proceedings.

The men, who were employed as security personnel at the Kaieteur News at the time of the incident, are accused of murdering 58-year-old Mohabir Singh, called “Emile,” between March 15 and March 16, 2021, at the publication’s Saffon Street, Charlestown compound.

Dead: Mohabir Singh

They were represented by Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat.

Licorish and Waldron were first brought before the court in March 2021, shortly after Singh’s body was discovered. At that appearance before then Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, they were not required to plead to the indictable murder charge and were remanded to prison.

The matter later advanced through the paper committal process before Magistrate Daly. Under that procedure, the prosecution tenders written witness statements and documentary exhibits, and the magistrate determines whether the evidence discloses a prima facie case.

After reviewing the material, Magistrate Daly ruled that sufficient evidence exists for the matter to proceed to the High Court at the next practicable sitting.

Court documents state that around 08:30 hrs on March 16, 2021, an employee at the newspaper’s Saffon Street location went to move a Canter truck parked under a shed when he observed Singh’s motionless body in the tray.

Police were summoned and reported observing injuries, including a wound to the back of the man’s head and what appeared to be a small cut to his wrist. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the two security guards who were on duty at the time.

A post-mortem examination performed by government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh concluded that Mohabir Singh died from brain haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head.

The use of paper committal in the case meant that witnesses were not called to testify in open court during the magistrate’s inquiry. Instead, their written statements were tendered and marked as exhibits.

With the committal now complete, the case will be transferred to the High Court, where the Director of Public Prosecutions will present the indictment.

Mohabir Singh had reportedly lived on the streets for decades prior to his death. Family members previously indicated that he was once a goldsmith who operated a business in West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, but fell into drug addiction in his 30s.

Despite undergoing rehabilitation on two occasions and even sitting CSEC examinations while incarcerated—reportedly earning distinctions—Singh eventually returned to substance abuse and remained homeless in the years leading up to his death.