The trial of a couple who is accused of fatally beating a man with a crowbar on July 2, 2016, ended in a hung jury. Alexis Turpin and Sherfon Barlow are jointly charged with murdering Sherwin Johnson. After a murder indictment was brought against them by State Prosecutor Seeta Bishundial, they pleaded not guilty before Justice Brassington Reynolds.
According to reports, Turpin and Johnson shared a relationship and lived together with their child at Lodge, Georgetown. On the day in question, Johnson reportedly came home and found Turpin in bed with Barlow. A fight ensued between the three of them. It is alleged that during the fight, Turpin and Barlow teamed up against Johnson.
They allegedly used a crowbar and a knife to inflict injuries on Johnson. After the beating, Johnson was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remained hospitalized for several days. A joint attempted murder charge was brought against Turpin and Barlow. After Johnson died, the charge against them was upgraded to murder.
During their trial, the Prosecution presented its case by calling several witnesses, including Police ranks, doctors, and civilians. In their defence, Turpin and Barlow, who appeared in court virtually from the prisons, give unsworn testimonies.
After the close of the cases for the Prosecution and Defence, Justice Reynolds gave a summary of the case before putting it to the jury for deliberation on a verdict. The summation lasted for close to an hour. The jurors deliberated for close to three hours on Wednesday, emerging twice for further directions from the trial judge.
They were unable to reach a verdict. As a consequence, the two murder accused were further remanded to prison. They await a retrial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. Both of them were represented by counsel at their trial.