Businessman Erwin Bacchus is now facing a murder charge. This was after the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the manslaughter charge and instituted the new charge today in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The new charge was read to him when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman. He was remanded to prison.
The businessman who owns the Tourist Villa Hotel shot and killed Jason De Florimonte in Subryanville back in August. Bacchus was charged for manslaughter and was released on $1.5Million dollars bail. This angered relatives of the dead man who are still crying out for justice.
This latest development is not sitting well with Bacchus’ attorney, Nigel Hughes, who told the court that it is an abuse of power by the DPP.
Bacchus was released on $1.5million dollars bail on the manslaughter charge when he first appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
His lawyer, Nigel Hughes, told the court that his client acted in self-defence. He noted that on the day in question there was an altercation in the hotel’s parking lot between the hotel’s handyman and De Florimonte after the handyman reportedly caught Jason beating his girlfriend, which she still denies. The handyman told officers that Jason was armed with a knife and a rolling pin and he attacked him.
The attorney also told the court that his client fired two warning shots to the ground, but this did not stop Jason. The young man was shot multiple times about his body and succumbed to his injuries. Bacchus is a liscensed firearm holder.
Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers said some 20 witnesses are to be called during the Preliminary Inquiry.
The matter was adjourned to September 25th for reports on the Post Mortem examination and October 3rd for the commencement of the Preliminary Inquiry.
