A Lot 999 Section B Sophia, Greater Georgetown man is now the third person charged with the murder of 10-year-old Anthony Cort, who was shot earlier this year during a robbery. Rondell Sobers called “Larry” appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on March 11, 2021, at Sophia, he murdered Cort during the course or furtherance of a robbery. He was remanded to prison until October 8.
Back in March, a 16-year-old boy was also charged with Cort’s murder. Then in May, Kendrick Cozier, 29, called “Bullaboy”, of A Field Sophia, was also arraigned for the lad’s murder.
It was reported that two gunmen wearing face masks had invaded a property in C Field Sophia belonging to a 44-year-old businesswoman, who is Cort’s aunt. At the time of that invasion, Cort was in the upper flat of the home in the company of others.
The bandits entered the lower flat of the home and held the occupants at gunpoint. They relieved the victims of two cell phones, each valued at $80,000; two gold bands valued at $100,000, two gold rings valued at $100,000, one gold chain valued at $100,000, and $80,000 in cash.
The bandits then ordered the victims into the upper flat of the house via a northern door. As they went into the upper flat, Anthony Cort was about to exit a north-eastern bedroom when one of the bandits discharged a round that hit him in his left upper shoulder. Cort later succumbed to his injuries.
In a caution statement, Cozier reportedly told detectives that the 16-year-old boy had told him that one of his relatives was in a relationship with the businesswoman, and that she had millions of dollars in cash and jewellery at her home.
According to the Police, Cozier implicated three of the 16-year-old’s friends, namely “Gully”, “Rodell” and “Mario” in the crime. He claimed that “Gully” provided the gun.
He reportedly admitted that the 16-year-old planned that “Gully” would go into the shop to purchase something as a decoy, while “Mario” and “Rodell” would be the lookouts.
Cozier reportedly told detectives that he and the 16-year-old planned that they would go into the house and demand the valuables. He added that he and the teen went to the shop, and the teen pointed the gun at three females who were inside the said shop.
Police said the murder accused claimed that he was not armed. In addition, he allegedly confessed that he relieved the victims of their valuables, but claimed that the 16-year-old then went into the house.
According to the confession statement, Cozier said that after the teen went to the upper flat of the house, he heard a loud explosion that sounded like a gunshot.
He claimed that after hearing that sound, he immediately ran into the upper flat and saw a young boy lying motionlessly on the ground, with the teen standing over him.
He reportedly told the Police that he ran out of the house, picked up his bicycle which he had stashed before the robbery, and rode away.
According to the Police, Cozier said the teen later met him and the other accomplices and admitted to killing the child. He said they then parted the money and jewellery and the 16-year-old returned the firearm to “Gully” before leaving.
Police say Cozier claimed that after the incident, he never saw the teen again and that he travelled to the West Coast Demerara where he stayed.
