Unsolved murders pile up

By Stabroek staff | December 16, 2008 in Local News 

Of the six murders that occurred over the ten-day period between November 30 and December 9, only one was an open-and-shut case and the alleged assailant has been charged.

In the latest case which apparently occurred in the wee hours of December 9, a 42-year-old electrician was beaten to death apparently by a vigilante group, though the exact location where the incident occurred remained vague.

Unsolved Vigilance backdam murders

Ardell Haynes of 1290 Spurwing Drive, South Ruimveldt Park was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Hospital some time after 3 am on Tuesday last.

On December 5, a 40-year-old sawmill worker was stabbed to death following a heated family dispute.

Ralph Jacobs of Plaisance, Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) and according to reports he sustained a knife wound in the region of the heart. The incident occurred some time after 6 pm.

This newspaper understands that the man’s daughter and stepson were sent to buy a phone card in the Plaisance area but took a long time to return. As such Jacobs went in search of them and after an argument it is alleged that the man began kicking and hitting the boy.

It was at this point that the relative who stabbed Jacobs got involved in the incident which had turned into a fight. The relative allegedly attempted to play the role of peacemaker and it was during a scuffle that Jacobs was stabbed once with a kitchen knife that was handed to him.

The stabber was subsequently apprehended and was charged.

Earlier that day, the body of 41-year-old Veio Persaud called ‘Sunil’, was discovered in his Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara home. There were two gaping wounds to his forehead; jewellery he wore was missing and the entire home was ransacked.

The discovery was made by a female and she along with two other women who were seen with the man the night before were detained by police for questioning. They have since been released.

Two days earlier, 26-year-old Vivian Walker was discovered dead in his Sand Hills, Berbice River home with a single gunshot wound at the back of his right shoulder.

The man was facing felonious wounding charges at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court after severely chopping 18-year-old Deon Denhart of Hofwerk, Berbice on his back and left hand on September 7.

Denhart was hospitalized but has since been unable to use his hand. Walker had turned himself in one week after the chopping. Three persons were held and subsequently released and the police are still hunting a suspect from Hofwerk.

That same day, political activist Fiesal Ferose Ali was discovered dead in his Alexander Village home with stab wounds to his upper body and a wound to the back of the head.

His computer system was missing and police later removed a bloody hammer and knife from the home. His cause of death was given as blunt trauma to the head.

His maid Meena De Souza, had told Stabroek News that she arrived as customary just before 9 am on December 3, to do her chores and found the back door pushed in and the padlock on but unlocked. Believing nothing was wrong she entered the house and met Ali’s mentally challenged brother, who indicated his brother was in his bedroom. Fifteen minutes later, a friend turned up and while De Souza was against waking him the man persisted and entered the bedroom where he discovered the body. De Souza and the man were held for questioning but subsequently released.

Neighbours had told Stabroek News that they heard nothing and they believed that the killing occurred during a heavy downpour earlier that morning.

Several persons including two young men who stayed at the home periodically were held in the days following the discovery but they have since been released on bail and so far no one has been charged.

On November 30, gas station owner Brandis Roberts was found dead in his Parika, East Bank Essequibo home, with his hands tied behind his back and a pair of pants tied around his face covering his mouth. The discovery was made around 7.30 am.

A bag with money representing the previous day’s sales was missing, but his jewellery, cellular phone and keys were untouched. Police later said that he died as a result of strangulation. A suspect was held and subsequently released.