A jury at the Demerara High Court has convicted Bryan “Big Foot” Leitch of murder in the killing of hotel proprietor Joseph Jagdeo, marking a significant development in a case that has spanned over a decade.
Leitch was previously found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 33 years in prison. However, the Court of Appeal of Guyana overturned that conviction, ruling that the trial judge had improperly directed the jury. As a result, the appellate court ordered a retrial.
The retrial, presided over by Justice Gino Persaud, concluded with the jury returning a guilty verdict for the capital offense of murder. Joseph Jagdeo, 62, was the owner of the South Central Hotel, located at Lot 218 South Road, Georgetown. His body was discovered in November 2013, concealed beneath a bed, bound and gagged.
According to court records, Leitch had been staying at the hotel with a female companion on November 13, 2013. During that stay, Jagdeo discovered that his cellphone was missing and confronted Leitch about the issue, leading to escalating tensions between the two men.
The following day, the hotel caretaker encountered a locked door during his routine cleaning. After gaining access, he found Jagdeo’s body hidden under a bed, with his hands and feet bound with pillowcases.
At the time of his initial charge, Leitch was just 19 years old. He spent nearly 13 years in custody as the case progressed through the legal system. His earlier trial resulted in a jury acquitting him of murder but convicting him of manslaughter—a verdict later nullified by the appellate court, which allowed for the current retrial.
State prosecutors successfully argued their case during the retrial, leading the jury to ultimately find Leitch guilty of murder. Following the verdict, the court adjourned for sentencing, with Leitch expected to return to court on April 13, 2026, when Justice Persaud will impose the sentence.
