A festering dispute over money has left two brothers dead after they were fatally stabbed allegedly by an older cousin at Industrial Area, Mackenzie, Linden yesterday.
Dead are Imran Bacchus called ‘Taffo’ and Sheed Bacchus, both 26 years of 211 Wismar Street, Linden. Imran would have attained 27 years in December. The incident occurred sometime after 8 am yesterday. Their cousin, Abdul Budhoo is under police guard at the hospital. Eyewitnesses as well as the parents of the brothers and the suspect have said that the trio was involved in several armed and violent altercations before over money owed to Imran by the suspect.
Police said that the murders are being investigated. “Investigations revealed that there had been an altercation between the suspect and one of the brothers during last week, and together they (the brothers) confronted him (yesterday) during which Imran Bacchus was stabbed to his back and Sheed Bacchus stabbed to his chest,” a police statement said. “The suspect received injuries to his head and hand and is under guard at the Mackenzie Hospital,” it added.
Eyewitnesses told Stabroek News that the brothers were in Industrial Area at a shop waiting to be transported to Amelia’s Ward where they were building a house when the suspect infuriated them by pelting stones. “Dem boys were sitting right under here. Deh even had these children sitting under here and he stoning down the place,” said an eyewitness.
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said that the two brothers were among several men who were constructing her house. “Everybody would come and deh bus would pick them up and carry them to the ward,” she explained.
Another eyewitness, who gave his name only as `Dread’, said that he had just arrived to collect the two brothers to transport them to Amelia’s Ward. “Dah man (the suspect) was riding up and down all deh time threatening dem man and I told them he got a weapon in he waist cause you could see it bulging. But we couldn’t tell what it was,” `Dread’ said.
He recalled that Sheed left the shed despite efforts by his older brother, Imran to deter him. “He go out and tell he put down yuh weapon and come fight if yuh want fight,” `Dread’ recounted. At that stage the suspect allegedly got off his bicycle, picked up stones and started pelting Sheed. “So Sheed run fuh a paling stave but he couldn’t get it out and (the suspect) fire a punch at he then draw a knife and start jukking like mad,” the eyewitness recounted.
Imran went to his brother’s aid and tried to part the fight but the attacker turned on him and stabbed him to the side of his chest in the region of his heart.
Another resident also intervened and dealt the suspect a blow to the head with a piece of wood. The two brothers were bleeding badly and were rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC). Sheed died on the way to the LHC while Imran died while receiving medical attention in the accident and emergency unit.
Residents said that the accused had earlier yesterday morning threatened to shoot the men. “He left and go home saying how he going fuh he gun and come back saying deh gun ain’t got bullets and he gon chop them to pieces,” one recounted.
Stabroek News was told that the suspect fled the scene before later turning himself over to police. He was taken to the hospital under police guard. The man who intervened and ended the attack was also said to be in police custody assisting with investigations.
At the scene yesterday, blood was seen splattered across the road. At the home of the suspect, his mother was sitting in her shop. “All I can say I glad deh police get he, but why deh had to come till here weh he deh fuh pick war,” she said.
The woman admitted that the incident stemmed from an old grievance which resulted in a fight two weeks ago. Recounting that incident, she said that she stumbled on her son and the two cousins fighting in the street late at night. She said others intervened and stopped the fight but Sheed was wounded.
According to relatives of the brothers, Imran did some work for the suspect about a month ago and he said that he was not paid for the work and the problems stemmed from this incident. The relatives said that the brothers confronted the suspect several times over the money owed but the man refused resulting in the problem escalating into violence.
Agnes Khan, 50, the stepmother of the brothers and their sister Fazela Bacchus, 19, recounted the fight two weeks ago.
They said that the suspect had come to their home and had chopped Sheed in an attack. Several residents of the area also recounted the incident. They said that the accused would frequent the street and pelt the brothers’ house and two weeks ago, attacked and chopped Sheed before their eyes.
Fazela said that her brother had made a report at the Mackenzie police station in the hope that the suspect would have desisted from visiting their home and troubling them. “Is only last year daddy died and left we and now look he own nephew killed he two sons,” she cried.
A Wismar Street resident, Verna Skeete said that she and another neighbour were awakened shortly after 5 am yesterday after the suspect allegedly stoned the Bacchus’ home. “He was here again this morning (yesterday) pelting down… like dis man was desperate,” said Skeete.
Investigations are continuing and charges are expected soon.
