More than a month after a Mahaica truck driver was found dead a short distance away from his home; police have been unable to gather adequate evidence to lay charges against the main suspect.
Jadesh Dass, 32, of Chelsea Park, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was shot and killed on April 17 around 2 am after he left his home for work up the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. He was found with what appeared to be a huge gash to the head. The body was discovered a short distance away from his truck at New Road, Mosquito Hall, ECD.
This newspaper understands that Dass’s employer and his brother were questioned in relation to the murder. They were since released from police custody.
Stabroek News yesterday spoke to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud who stated that the “person who was initially in police custody” remains the main suspect. He noted that the police are still investigating the matter and will have to check the phone records of the deceased. He added that no one else has been indentified in relation to the murder.
Meanwhile, the dead man’s sister-in-law, Neeta Dass, told this newspaper that the police have indicated to the family that there were a few suspects on whom they conducted gun powder tests. “They say they had couple of Jadesh friends as suspects and if anybody de pull the trigger, they does leave traces of gun powder so they test for that but they say they ain’t get the results as yet,” the woman said.
She added that the police remain in possession of Dass’s cellular phone from which they say they have recovered a voicemail message which may intensify their probe. She added that the police have indicated that such an investigation may take years. “They say that a matter like this don’t solve overnight… but everybody know is who,” she speculated.
The relative added that several persons came forward and indicated to the family that they saw what had happened but expressed fear in serving as eyewitnesses. “These people frighten fuh they life.
They don’t want to get involved although they know what happened. We know we can’t get him back but we praying that we get lil justice and we hope that God gon answer we prayer,” she said.
Apart from the focus on the investigation, the woman said she and other family members were a bit fearful about their own well-being but after some time had elapsed, realized they had nothing to worry about.
“We never get any threats or anything, whoever do it been just want he dead. We living happy, we going about our business and had no problems since,” she said.
A post-mortem examination revealed that the man suffered two gunshot wounds at close range to the right side of his temple and his forehead. Prior to the medical examination, it was speculated that he might have been hit to the head by his attackers with a heavy object. Robbery was not a motive, relatives concluded, after they found his money and other belongings intact.
