A popular local actor was found dead yesterday morning with his throat slit at the Liliendaal seawall — hours before his latest production was set to open at the National Cultural Centre.
At the time he was found, Joel Fraser, 39, of Lot 27 Laing Avenue, was wearing only his underpants and a t-shirt. Valuables, which he had had in his possession, including a laptop computer and production material for the premiere of the Mori J’von Comedy Jam, were missing.
Investigators were yesterday trying to ascertain the motive behind the killing, which sent shockwaves through the theatrical community that Fraser had been a member of for many years.
In a terse statement on the case, police said last evening that they were investigating.
According to reports reaching Stabroek News, Fraser was last seen in the vicinity of Bourda Market around midnight. Around 6 am, joggers passing the Liliendaal area found him lying on the seawall in a pool of blood. This newspaper was told that his throat was slashed so badly that his windpipe was protruding. His face had wounds consistent with it being hit with a blunt object and the perpetrator(s) had also used a knife to inflict other injuries.
Fraser was clad in a hat, t-shirt and his underpants. There was a pair of slippers on his feet. A bag containing another pair of footwear and his cellular phone was lying nearby.
Police sources said the man’s girlfriend was questioned yesterday morning and after providing the police at the Sparendaam Police Station with a statement she was released.
Up to press time last evening, no suspects were identified.
At the man’s home, neighbours gathered to offer words of comfort to his mother, Florizel Fraser. The woman, who was calm, said that God has given her the strength to deal with her son’s gruesome and untimely death. Florizel recalled that a group of Fraser’s friends from Bourda Market, where he also operated a greens stall, went to her and broke the news.
She said she was shocked and speechless, but went to the area behind the Ocean View International Hotel to view the body.
The grieving woman said that though her son’s face was badly damaged by what appeared to be knife wounds, she recognized him.
She indicated that he was hardly at home, as he spent most of his time with his girlfriend. However, he visited her several days ago and was in a very happy mood over the upcoming comedy jam. “He come hey to get up thing fuh de show. He stay a few minutes and then he left. Ah didn’t even get to hug or kiss he before he lef,” the woman told this newspaper.
Asked if he had any problems with anyone, she said Fraser was never a person to deliver bad news to her. She was baffled over what could have led to his death.
Fraser also leaves to mourn three siblings. Persons he grew up with said he was a loving and respectful person who was always jovial.
Fraser was the production assistant and stage manager of the Mori J’von Comedy Jam and had attended the final rehearsal on Tuesday night. The show opened last evening and will be held again tonight as scheduled.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the show Olive Morrison told Stabroek News yesterday that she last saw Fraser when she dropped him off at Orange Walk, Bourda around 11.30 pm. At the time, she said, he was in high spirits and gave no indication that anything was bothering him.
Morrison, who was shocked to receive the tragic news yesterday, said he had played an integral part in the production of the comedy jam, the brainchild of her and her husband Ron Morrison.
Fraser was also working with writer/producer Maria Benschop on an upcoming television sitcom. Benschop, who also expressed shock yesterday recalled that he had been production manager and an actor in her recent show, Nothing to Laugh About – a collection of satirical sketches.
