A terrorism charge arising from the unrest that erupted on the East Coast Demerara following the death of Adriana Younge at the Double Day Hotel in April 2025 was on Monday dismissed after a magistrate found that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to warrant a defence.
Samuel Glasgow was discharged by Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court after his attorneys, Kevin Morgan and Kasha Fraser, successfully submitted that there was no case for him to answer.
Glasgow had been charged under Section 309A of the Terrorism Act in relation to a road fire at Annandale and the alleged looting of GST3 Supermarket during disturbances on April 28 and 29, 2025.
In his ruling, Magistrate Scarce found that the prosecution had not met the legal threshold required to commit the matter to trial and upheld the defence’s no-case submission.
The charge stemmed from nationwide protests and unrest following the death of Younge.
Special Prosecutor Janet Ali, who appeared for the prosecution, had argued that the road blockade and looting were intended to create fear among members of the public. The prosecution relied on CCTV footage, testimony from police officers and statements from the supermarket owner in support of its case.
The defence, however, contended that the evidence failed to establish the essential elements of the offence, including the requisite criminal conduct, an intention to strike terror, and Glasgow’s direct involvement in the alleged acts.
Following the ruling, the charge was dismissed and Glasgow was freed.
Adriana was found dead in the Double Day Hotel’s pool on the morning of April 24th. She had visited the hotel the previous day with her grandmother, aunt, and two younger siblings for a swim after completing her National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.
The discovery of Adriana’s body on April 24 sparked immediate public outrage, leading to protests, looting, and the torching of the hotel and the residence of the owner. (Jeune Bailey Van Keric)
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