Marlon DaSilva to stand trial for murder of wife, Kenesha Vaughn

Businessman Marlon DaSilva has been committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of his reputed wife, 27-year-old Kenesha Vaughn.

The incident took place on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at the couple’s home in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The case was being heard before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court. At the conclusion of the preliminary inquiry, Magistrate Bess committed the accused to stand trial for murder.

DaSilva’s attorneys, Glenn Hanoman, Sanjeev Datadin and Everton Singh-Lammy, were initially pushing to have the case dismissed on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

After the no-case submission was thrown out by the magistrate, the defence attorneys urged the court to commit DaSilva for manslaughter instead, contending that the evidence supports provocation and does not establish the intent required for a murder charge.

However, Magistrate Bess ruled that key issues, including the number of shots fired, the reasonableness of DaSilva’s response, and whether provocation existed, are matters for a jury to determine.

DaSilva is accused of brutally killing his wife on February 22, 2025 at their Diamond, East Bank Demerara home.

Reports are that Vaughn and DaSilva were in an intimate relationship for four years, during which they had a three-year-old son.

Investigations revealed that on February 22, 2025 at about 20:00h, DaSilva arrived home and met the victim, who was at the time inside the kitchen, when a heated argument ensued between them during which the suspect allegedly dealt the victim a slap.

In retaliation, the woman allegedly armed herself with knife and as she was approaching the suspect, he whipped out his firearm from his front pants waist and discharged several rounds in the victim’s direction, hitting her to several parts of her body.

She immediately fell to the ground and became motionless. After allegedly committing the act, the suspect contacted the police, who responded and rushed the victim to the Diamond Hospital, where she died.

At the scene, four 9MM cases and three suspected projectiles were recovered. An inspection on the victim’s body revealed 12 injuries described as entry and exit wounds.

Police had also confirmed that the suspect was highly intoxicated and was earlier in the evening seen consuming alcohol at a popular drinking establishment on Main Street, Georgetown.