Police reports said the unlawful killing was the result of an altercation between the alleged shooter and the victim.

George has been remanded to jail until March 18, when he will make his next Court appearance at Springlands, also in Corentyne, Berbice, to where the case has been transferred.

Meanwhile, Todd was buried Thursday with full military honours.

In Court…
Ex-cop charged with Monday Brickdam Police shooting murders

Solomon Blackman faced two murder charges before Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen, who remanded him to prison until the April 16 start of the preliminary inquiry (PI).

The prisoner is charged with murdering Assistant Superintendent Richard Griffith and Lance Corporal Ramnarine Latchana on March 1.

Two more charges against Blackman said, the same day, he unlawfully and maliciously attempted to also murder Corporal Clifton Nelson and Constable Kester Cosbert.

Defence Counsel Mortimer Coddette told the Court, Blackman needs psychiatric treatment and has no feeling in the leg on which he was shot during the attack.

Mrs. Holder-Allen advised Coddette that there are procedures for his client to get medical treatment but said the PI will not begin until the accused is in better health.

While Blackman was making the Court appearance upstairs, a large crowd, mostly of relatives including his father, gathered in the compound below and, when he emerged, some in the throng were heard telling him to pray, be strong and God will forgive him.

Outside the courtroom, Coddette declared that Blackman is a citizen like every other Guyanese and deserves a fair trial.

The alleged killer, of Lot 34 Bent Street, Wortmanville, in the city, was a former member of the Police Tactical Services Unit (TSU).

One of the injured policemen, Nelson is still a patient at Georgetown Public Hospital where his condition is said to be stable.

February 29, 2003