By Ahreefa Bacchus

Five persons were on Friday arraigned for the murder of British teen Dominic Bernard who was allegedly fatally beaten to death by his godbrother and his godbrother’s friend.

The teen’s godbrother, Aaron Hing is allegedly the mastermind behind the murder

Murder accused, Staymon George

Krystal Thomas was allegedly involved in plotting the teen’s murder

Aaron Hing, 22, also known as “Neutral” of Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice; Staymon George, 23, known as Sherwin or “Stayey”; Krystal Thomas, 20, also known as Kattie; Sinfinee Henry, 39, and Jameel Sinclair, 20, also known as “Frass”, of Nurney Village, Berbice were not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on October 14 at Kildonan, they murdered Dominic Bernard.

Murder accused, Jameel Sinclair

Thomas’ mother, Sinfinee Henry was also charged for the murder

The murder accused were represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes, who argued that the selective release of information to the press by those in charge of the investigation may impair the chances of his clients having a fair trial.
The Attorney questioned the rationale behind all five individuals being charged for murder. He opined that given the particulars of the charges which state that Thomas, Henry and Sinclair plotted the murder and concealed evidence of the crime, they should have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and the obstruction of justice.  Hughes expressed that he was confident that he could robustly defend the accused.
The five were remanded and the matter was transferred to the Whim Magistrate’s Court for January 21.
After the teen had been missing for months, Police launched a manhunt for the key suspects in the case, Hing and George.
They were arrested after a decomposed body believed to be that of the missing teenager was discovered in a shallow grave a few villages from Kildonan, the village where the teen was expected to spend his time during his visit to Guyana.
The duo subsequently confessed to beating and burying the young man. They reportedly took some £2000 and the teen’s camera and video-making equipment, some of which they allegedly sold while they disposed of others.
They later admitted that they had collected the teen from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on October 14, 2015 and on their way to Berbice, they stopped along Sheriff Street where they ate and drank a few beers. After his arrest, Sinclair took law enforcement to an area behind Nurney Village and pointed out where he hid the teen’s camera and its components by burying them. Sinclair admitted that he was promised payment to hide the teen’s belongings on the night he was fatally beaten.
Thomas and Henry were allegedly involved in planning the murder, and were arrested by Police after they reportedly were discovered concealing evidence.