Almost two months have passed since the brutal murder of local actor Joel Fraser and police say that despite finding no leads they are still working hard on the investigation, even as the dead man’s mother expressed disappointment at the police’s response thus far.
Giving an update on the investigation, Divisional Commander Balram Persaud told Stabroek News when contacted that though persons were questioned they have no leads. The motive the police are pursuing he disclosed, was robbery as valuables that were supposed to be in Fraser’s possession when he was found were missing. He remained adamant that the “case is still open”.
On November 25 last, joggers had found Fraser’s body in a pool of blood. His throat had been slit while his face had wounds consistent with blunt trauma. The perpetrator/s apparently used a knife to inflict other injuries as well.
His demise came just half a day before his latest production was scheduled to open at the National Cultural Centre. Fraser’s valuables, including a laptop computer and production material for the premiere of Mori J’von Comedy Jam, were missing when he was found.
At the time he was discovered the 39-year-old Fraser was clad in his underpants, a t-shirt and a pair of sandals. The area where he was found is dark at night and there are no houses in the immediate vicinity.
The man was last seen around 11.30 pm on the day before he was found when he was dropped off at Orange Walk, Bourda, after completing the final rehearsal for the comedy jam. The man’s girlfriend was detained for questioning shortly after the discovery but was released after giving a statement to police.
Two other women, known to Fraser, were also held for questioning but were released the following day.
Contacted, a still grieving Florizel Fraser told this newspaper that she is getting no information on the case and this is of concern to her.
“They just bluff at the beginning and they done with it. I ain’t hearing anything or seeing no movements in this investigation,” the woman said.
She said that she is disappointed with the response from the police adding it was unfair. However, Florizel still hopes that at some point, the police will be able to bring her son’s killer/s to justice. She said it saddens her when she meets people and they talk about him.
She was adamant while speaking to this newspaper, that the murder was more than robbery and to her, the killing was carefully planned.
“The only one that has all the information is God. I don’t want to accuse anyone but I am just hoping and praying that it will be solved,” she said, adding that the Christmas season without her son was hard for her.
Prior to his death, Fraser spent time in the Bourda Market where he had many friends and according to Florizel that is a place she now tries to avoid.
Earlier this week, Llewellyn Fitzgerald Campbell of Lamaha Street, Kitty was found with his throat slit, face battered and knife wounds to his hand on the Kingston seashore behind the Guyana Forestry Commission.
Observers have pointed to a possible link between the two murders because of the obvious similarities. Both men had their throats slit as well as other wounds and both were murdered on the seawall, though at different locations. Both men also had close ties to Bourda Market and Fraser’s mother Florizel said yesterday that she had received reports that the two men knew each other.
However, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that investigators have found nothing to suggest that the two cases were linked.
Meanwhile, as the police continue their investigation into Campbell’s murder, Persaud said no suspect has been held but there are some leads that are being pursued.
