Eleven persons were murdered in July, four more than in the month before.
This is according to Stabroek News’ records for the last month. Among the victims, one was killed with an arrow, two were shot, two were strangled, two were drowned, one was beaten to death and the rest were stabbed.
Police ‘B’ Division was the scene for five of the cases while ‘A’, ‘G’ and ‘E & F’ divisions each aw two murders.
Former national footballer Daxton Parks was the first victim in the month. A 28-year old of St. Ignatius, Lethem, he was shot dead with an arrow on July 3. Reports are that Parks, while at Karasabai, South Rupununi, had a heated argument with a man, who later shot him with the projectile. Delroy Thomas, an 18-year-old farmer of Karasabai, has since been charged with Parks’ murder.
Also on that day, Brazilian Edel Alemba Passos, 51, was stabbed to death at Ikawan, Cuyuni.
Police had said that he was fatally stabbed during an argument with another man. The suspect has never been arrested.
On July 4, two persons were killed at Corentyne, Berbice in separate incidents. Terry Wayne Jack, 22, was allegedly shot dead by a policeman during a drinking spree at the Orealla Police Outpost, while Mahender Ally, of Kilcoy Settlement, was stabbed to death at a bush cook. Persons have been charged in both cases.
Then on July 7, Mon Repos Pasture, East Coast Demerara was thrown into shock after an elderly physically challenged man was discovered in his septic tank. Hours earlier, residents saw Abdul Azeez Hanniff’s home on fire and after breaking down the door did not find him.
The crutches that he used to assist him to walk were found lying in his bedroom. It was a brother who later decided to check in the septic tank. A post-mortem revealed that he was strangled.
On July 13, the battered body of 17-year-old Ravendra Persaud was discovered on a Mahaica Creek Road, a stone’s throw away from a wedding house where he had been partying. A post-mortem examination revealed that his skull was fractured. Police and relatives are yet to come up with a motive for the killing.
The following day, two children were discovered dead in a pond at Adventure, Essequibo Coast while their father Ranveer Persaud, 25, called ‘Joe,’ was discovering hanging a short distance away.
The man had a domestic dispute with his wife the previous night and left the home with the children, Shiva Persaud, 4, and Viya Persaud, 3. From all indications, the man drowned the children before taking his own life.
Eleven days later, Devika Persaud of No. 50 Village was discovered dead along the No. 61 Village Foreshore. She was strangled.
Shawn Fraser was the next murder victim for July. On July 27, he was shot twice during a dispute at Hogstye, Corentyne Backdam. His younger brother Odwin Bindah was injured.
Pastor Motilall Persaud of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice was the last of the victims last month. Persaud, 51, was fatally stabbed. Reports are that he was about to open his door around 10:15 pm when two masked men attacked him.
The attackers dealt him a slash to his foot and followed him to his brother-in-law’s yard next door, where he ran to seek cover, and stabbed him again in the region of his heart. He died before he could be rushed to the hospital.
