A 42-year-old city resident was beaten to death with a piece of wood at Ikawan Backdam, Cuyuni River on Sunday following an argument with a fellow miner. The suspect who was apprehended by public-spirited citizens is in police custody.

Dead is Elson Prince of Sophia, Georgetown.

A police press release said that an investigation has been launched into the murder which occurred at about 1930 hours in a mining camp at Ikawan Backdam. Investigations revealed that Prince was lying in a hammock in the mining camp when he was attacked and lashed about the body with a piece of wood by another man.

It was reported that the victim and the suspect, who is also a miner, had earlier been imbibing during which there was an argument and Prince had allegedly assaulted the suspect, the release added.

Contacted yesterday Commander David Ramnarine said that the suspect is assisting the police with their investigations. Ramnarine commended the residents for apprehending the alleged attacker and securing him until a team of ranks arrived in the area.

He noted that it is not often that public spirited citizens are able to apprehend suspects but in this case residents should be applauded.

Meanwhile, late yesterday afternoon, this newspaper was informed that Prince’s decomposing remains were on a mattress outside the Bartica Hospital Mortuary. The body was eventually transported to the city and is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.