A murder accused who was discovered lying motionless in his cell at the Camp Street prison early yesterday morning, hours after complaining of feeling unwell was later pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Ayube Hamid, 44, of Winsdor Forest, West Coast Demerara had been charged with the November 2009 killing of his father-in-law, Motilall Singh, a US-based Guyanese.
A senior prison officer, confirming the death, said that a post-mortem examination will be needed to determine how the inmate died. The official said that there were no marks of violence on the body.
Based on the information gathered by this newspaper, some time during Tuesday night Hamid began feeling unwell and requested medical attention. However, he was told that no medex was available and that he would have to wait until the morning hours.
He was subsequently found in the cell motionless and was rushed to the hospital around 05:30 hrs.
Meanwhile, two of the man’s siblings were shocked at his sudden death.
His sister, Bibi Zulikha, said she last saw him in June and he appeared in good health. She noted that prior to his incarceration, Hamid worked at sea where he developed a terrible cold. “So me nah know,” she stressed.
She recalled that some time after seven yesterday morning a woman called asking if she was Hamid’s sister. She replied in the affirmative before asking what had happened. It was then, she said, that the woman broke the news that he was dead.
The woman said she inquired from the caller how he could be dead when his wife’s brother, who was also charged with the murder, was also in jail with him. She said that later her sister went to the prison to gather information since she should could not go. She explained that she is caring for Hamid’s two young children, aged three and four since his wife Shamiza Khan was also in prison after being implicated in the murder.
She said based on what her sister told her a senior prison official said Hamid was picked up in his cell and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. She said the official also said that there are cameras in the facility and he has the monitor in his office and if at anytime Hamid was beaten, he would have seen.
“This thing shock me cause he strong. I don’t know how this could happen,” the woman said amidst tears. She said her brother had already been committed to stand trial in the High Court and was waiting for a date for the trial to start.
Another sister, Rena, said she saw him about three weeks ago and he appeared well. She said the family will have to await the PME to ascertain how he died.
The bloodied body of Singh was found close to a tiny bridge at Second Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara around 2 am on September 7. He had been stabbed multiple times.
Police had said that the man had been heading to his Second Street, Windsor Forest home when three men confronted and stabbed him several times. Investigators visited the scene and found Singh lying on the road with all his money, jewellery and other personal property intact. He died before receiving medical attention. A post-mortem examination had revealed that Singh,44, died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple stab wounds. He had been stabbed about 21 times.
Three days later, Singh’s son-in-law, Hamid called ‘Little’ and Bissoondial Mahadeo, a labourer called ‘Weedman’, appeared in court charged with his murder. His stepchildren: Bibi Farida Khan called ‘Pum’, Shamiza Khan called ‘Sham’, and Hoosman Khan called ‘Strongman’ were charged with procuring and abetting the murder. They were all charged under the same section and were not required to plead to the capital offences and were remanded to prison.
