Burnt elderly East Bank Essequibo couple…‘Smelly’ three others remanded for murder
… Also jointly charged for robbery at Tower Hotel
The entire plot of how Mohamed Munir and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir were murdered was revealed to detectives by Jason Howard, who also goes by the alias, ‘Smelly’. 
This vital information led to the arrest of three other men, who along with Howard allegedly set fire to the couple’s heavily grilled home with them inside after the couple refused to open their bedroom door, for the men to steal the $20M that was rumored to be in there.
Yesterday, the men were seated in the tray of a police force pick-up vehicle with heightened security as they arrived at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to be indicted. They were all handcuffed and shackled to both feet.
Howard, 21; Joel Blair; Sanjay George called ‘Coolie Boy’ and Shahabudeen Mohamed, called ‘Milo’ were jointly charged and remanded to prison for the murder of the elderly couple which was committed during the course of an arson on April 17, at Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo.
Howard who was also charged with two counts of attempted murder and five counts of robbery under arms, was captured minutes after he and attempted murder accused Curtis Vasconcellos, 22, allegedly robbed a Hotel Tower, Main Street, Georgetown employee.
The charred remains of Mohamed Munir, 75, and his wife Bibi Jamila Munir, 69, were retrieved from the debris of their two-storey home after the fire was extinguished. It was reported that during the fire, the couple phoned several relatives to tell them that bandits were on the property.
On the night of April 17, the Munir’s neighbour; Howard, and another man allegedly climbed onto the verandah of the couple’s house while the others stood watch outside. They were responding to a rumour that the couple had $20 million inside their home.
The trio entered the couple’s home and began to ransack it. The couple heard the commotion, awoke and raised an alarm. The two elderly people also refused to come out of their bedroom.
According to reports, one of the intruders then set a sofa alight and tossed a fuel cylinder near the burning sofa. They then fled through a track that led to a church and a cemetery behind the couple’s home. From their hiding place, they reportedly heard the two elderly people screaming for help.
Magistrate Faith McGusty remanded the four murder accused to prison until January 12, when they will appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Tower Hotel Robbery
Curtis Vasconcellos of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, and Howard were jointly charged and remanded to prison for allegedly robbing Tower Hotel accountant, Baldeo Seegobin, and shooting at a security guard before escaping with $2.9M on December 14.
According to reports, Vasconcellos and Howard were captured by police during a high speed chase after the robbery. The police said that the accountant had returned from making a substantial withdrawal from a City bank and was about to disembark his vehicle in front of the hotel, when he was approached by one of the men.
One of the attackers discharged a round at the vehicle, shattering the windscreen. The bullet grazed the security guard, who was sitting in the vehicle behind the accountant. According to information, the man snatched the bag containing cash and escaped on a waiting motorcycle. A mobile patrol pursued the two accused, who tried to elude police and ended up in the Sussex Street Canal in the vicinity of North East La Penitence.
It is alleged that on December 14, at Main Street, Georgetown, Howard and Vasconcellos while in the company of others and armed with guns robbed, Seegobin of $2.9M, a cheque book, a hard drive, a comb, a bottle of cologne among other items- to the value of $2.969,700.
It is also alleged that on the same day at Main Street, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded security guard, Balmick Persaud with intent to murder him.
Vasconcellos, who is being represented by Attorney Dexter Todd, and Howard, were not required to plead to the indictable charges read to them by Magistrate McGusty.
Attorney Todd did not make a bail application on behalf of his client. However, he told the court that police violated his client’s constitutional rights by keeping him in custody beyond the 72-hour period. According to the lawyer, he and his client are unaware if police applied for an extension in time.
Todd pointed out that Vasconcellos was beaten while in custody at several police stations and was not permitted to contact his family. He said that the reason for the police moving his client to various police stations was to prevent his family from seeing marks of violence on him.
“The accused has been moved to several stations. So when they (his family) turned up at one station they couldn’t find him. When they go to another station they couldn’t find him”, Todd noted.
Like the four murder accused Vasconcellos was instructed to return to court on January 12.
Before he was apprehended by police for this robbery, Vasconcellos had been out on High Court bail pending trial for attempted murder committed on businessman, Neezam Khan.
He allegedly shot at Khan during a robbery at his business place located at Grove, East Bank Demerara on June 6, 2015. Reports are that the businessman and his friends were outside a snackette for which Khan is the proprietor, when two gunmen rode up on motorcycles and relieved him of jewellery after shooting him to the arm.
While escaping Vasconcellos was shot to the neck and right arm, while his 18-year-old accomplice Michael Grant, formerly of Agricola was shot dead by the businessman. Vasconcellos was jointly charged with Orwyn Grant for the offence.
On September 7, last, both of them were committed to stand trial in the High Court by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after a prima facie case was made out against them by the prosecution.
Serial robber
Howard is alleged to be a serial robber. Apart from these charges, Howard was charged separately for attempted murder and a series of armed robberies he allegedly carried out around Georgetown and on the East Coast of Demerara.
It is alleged that on October 28, at Water Street, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Security Guard Kwasi Joseph, by shooting him with intent to murder him. It is also alleged that on October 12, at Church Street, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun; he robbed Bibi Jahbar of $6,000 cash. Howard is also accused of robbing Roopnarine Budhoo, of $800,000 while he was armed with a gun and in the company of others.
Further, it is alleged that on November 6, at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, he robbed Bibi Bacchus of $100,000 cash, while he was armed with a gun.
Finally, he is accused of robbing Sheik Sadick of $35,000, on November 18, at Lot 248 Oronoque Street, Georgetown, while he had a gun.
He was also not required to plead to these charges and remanded to jail.
Police Corporal Seon Blackman represented the state in the matters. (Feona Morrison)