In a notable verdict, 30-year-old Samorea Mitchell was found not guilty of the 2021 murder of Delroy Anthony McKenzie by a 12-member jury. The trial was presided over by Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara.
Mitchell, from Linden, Region 10, was accused of orchestrating the fatal shooting of the 23-year-old McKenzie during what prosecutors described as a gang-related ambush. The incident occurred on July 17, 2021, on Sunflower Street, Wismar, and resulted not only in McKenzie’s death but also left another man injured.
The prosecution’s case, led by attorney Christopher Belfield and supported by attorney Geneva Wills, claimed that Mitchell and others initially intended to confront members of a rival gang at a barbecue. However, the plan reportedly became compromised, leading to a retaliatory setup. Prosecutors alleged that McKenzie was lured to the location under the pretext of discussing the attack and was subsequently ambushed by gunmen in a waiting vehicle.
Trial evidence indicated that McKenzie was struck by nine gunshots, and investigators collected numerous spent shells and ammunition fragments at the crime scene. Ballistic tests suggested that multiple firearms were used during the shooting. The prosecution also revealed that the vehicle implicated in the attack had been stolen in Georgetown, subsequently abandoned, and later burned near Blue Lake.
Mitchell was accused of fleeing Linden shortly after the incident, traveling to Mahdia, and later returning before surrendering to police weeks afterward with legal representation. During the investigation, he faced multiple interviews but denied involvement. Although he reportedly provided an off-camera account of the events, he did not sign a written statement.
A post-mortem examination confirmed McKenzie’s cause of death as haemorrhage and shock due to multiple gunshot wounds, with significant internal bleeding.
Despite the prosecution’s extensive evidence, the jury reached a unanimous not guilty verdict, clearing Mitchell of all charges nearly five years after the shooting. Following the verdict, he was discharged and released from custody.
