Almost two weeks after money changer Aaron Latchman, called “Star Boy”, and his teenage daughter, Arianna Latchman, were gunned down during a home invasion at their Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) residence, five men were on Monday afternoon arraigned for the heinous crime.
Charged for the capital offence of murder are: 25-year-old Mark Rufino, a labourer of Parika Facade, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); 37-year-old Paul Chan, called “Long Hair” or “Anthony”, a conductor of Lot 10 Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; 44-year-old Troy Abrams called “Rasta Man”, a vendor of Middle Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD); 37-year-old Lloyd Sadloo, of 220 Mocha Arcadia, EBD and 41-year-old Sean Thomas, called “Yankee”, an electrician of Lot 59 William Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
The men appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where the indictable charge was read to them. The charge stated that on July 4, 2019 at Robert Street, Better Hope, ECD, they murdered Aaron and Arianna Latchman in the furtherance of a robbery.
According to Police reports, on that fateful day, about 15:30h, the father-and-daughter duo had just returned to their Lot 58 Robert Street home when they were confronted by armed men.
Holding the two victims at gunpoint, the alleged robbers took the duo into the upper flat of their house, where the bandits demanded money. After receiving a bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash, the men then shot the duo before escaping from the scene in a white Toyota Carina 212 motor car, which was parked some distance away.
Neighbours reported hearing gunshots and rushed to the victims’ assistance. The father and daughter were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Post-mortem examinations conducted on the bodies revealed that the father was shot thrice while his daughter received one fatal gunshot wound, resulting in their deaths.
Two of the accused murderers – Abrams and Sadloo – are known characters to the Police and the courts. Abrams was convicted in 2016 for two counts of robbery committed against America Street money changers Rayburn Fraser and Osaffo Ward. In November 2017, he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for the offence.
Meanwhile, Sadloo, who is said to be the alleged mastermind of the double murder, had a murder case discharged in 2012, but was later convicted in 2016 of narcotics trafficking. Nevertheless, the convict managed to make yet another court appearance in 2018, where he was charged for several armed robberies. Sadloo is also presently before the courts for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
The five men were all remanded to prison until August 15, 2019, when they were expected to make their next court appearance.
Watching on the sidelines, as her husband’s and daughter’s alleged killers were escorted out of court, Tracy Waheeda broke down in tears while relating what the bereaved family was going through.
“I hope they’re not gonna go back on the road free out there, so that a next family can feel what I’m feeling … but looking at them, I could just imagine what my husband and daughter went through with them,” the tearful woman said.
Meanwhile, a senior officer refuted reports that suggested that the men were paid by a friend of the now dead businessman to execute him. The Police arrested four of the five suspects on Thursday last. The first to be arrested was “Rasta Man”. He was reportedly arrested at Front Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, after Police swooped down on a house there. After his arrest, he took the Police to Dennis Street, Sophia and Parika, where the others were arrested.
Additionally, a motor car used by the bandits that belonged to the dead businessman was found at Front Road. During a search of the vehicle, an illegal firearm and several rounds of ammunition were found.
As the detectives worked with several leads, Sadloo was arrested after his name was called by the four men. He was the one who reportedly provided them with the weapons that they used to murder the money changer and his daughter.
He was nabbed in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and was described by two of the three men detained for the murders as “second in charge”.
