More than 11 years after Noel “Nephi” Luther was gunned down, murder suspect Kanand Ojha is finally before the Guyanese courts.
Ojha was today remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, three days after being deported to Guyana from the United States.
He is accused of killing Luther, a sex worker, in July 2015.
Ojha’s case was adjourned to October 12, 2026, for report.
The Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara man had remained outside the jurisdiction for more than a decade and was one of two persons identified as suspects in Luther’s murder.
The other suspect, Ron “Andel” Forde, was charged in connection with the killing and in June 2017 was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Ojha, meanwhile, remained at large.
A wanted bulletin was eventually issued for him in July 2019 in connection with Luther’s murder.
His whereabouts remained unknown to local authorities until September 2025, when he was arrested by law enforcement authorities in Queens, New York.
The arrest followed continued cooperation between Guyanese and US authorities. The Government of Guyana had said the arrest resulted from collaboration involving the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters framework.
After the arrest, proceedings began for Ojha’s removal from the United States.
He was deported to Guyana last Friday and handed over to local law enforcement upon arrival.
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