State drops murder-plot case against businessman after victim refuses to testify

The State’s case against businessman Mark Grimmond and alleged hit-man Chatterpaul “Kevin” Singh, who were accused of plotting to murder Lethem businessman Dwayne Grant, has collapsed after the victim informed prosecutors that he no longer wished to give evidence, telling them he had been paid.

The disclosure was made in court this week prompting the State to discontinue the matter.

Grimmond, owner of Mark Interior Communication Inc. and operator of Mark’s Pool Side and Fun Park at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Singh, a miner from Cummings Lodge, were first brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on June 13, 2019.

They were jointly charged with conspiring with persons known and unknown to murder Grant between April 1, 2018, and June 7, 2019, in Georgetown. The charge was indictable, and the men were not required to plead.

During the initial court proceedings, Grimmond was represented by Attorneys Bernard DaSilva and Mark Waldron, who described him as a 57-year-old father of 11 who also managed Rockies Bar and Hotel in Georgetown. Singh, then 36, appeared unrepresented and was described by the court as no stranger to law enforcement, having previously faced attempted murder and fraud charges.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Gordon Mansfield had outlined the prosecution’s case, telling the court that Grant received a tip-off that Grimmond had hired Singh to execute him.

Fearing for his life, Grant made a report to the police. Investigators later descended on a hotel in Lethem, where Singh was found in possession of an illegal firearm. Mansfield told the court that Singh gave a caution statement admitting he had been contracted to kill Grant, and that police recovered telephone records between the two men.

Because of the seriousness of the allegation, the prosecution strongly objected to bail, and Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan remanded both men. The case remained before the courts for years, with repeated adjournments, until it came to an abrupt end this week.

Prosecutors informed the court that Grant had withdrawn his cooperation and stated he would not testify, claiming he had been paid. With no witness and no remaining evidence capable of sustaining the conspiracy charge, the State moved to discontinue the matter.