Eighteen persons, including five women and three children, have been killed in the last 28 days, in circumstances ranging between police shootings, stabbings and being set on fire.
Based on Stabroek News’ records, the first murder was that of teenager Shaquille Grant, who was fatally shot by police on September 11—a day before his 18th birthday.
Grant was shot at Third Street, Agricola by members of a patrol that was on an operation in the area.
On September 12, Brian Anthony, 24, was found in a drain at Kara Kara, Linden. While the cause of his death was recorded as drowning, the contributory factor was blunt trauma to the head and neck. It is unclear if any suspects were held.
Two days later, the lifeless body of policeman Jirbahan Dianand, a narcotics detective, was found in his car at Jackson Creek, Corentyne.
Dianand, who had a reputation for good work in the drug fight in Berbice, was shot in the head. Several persons were arrested and a wanted bulletin was later issued for Mool Persaud Maniram, called “Rakesh,” a Crabwood Creek resident. Up to today, no one has been placed before the court in connection with the murder.
On September 22, the bloodied bodies of Jennifer Persaud, 41, and her sons, six-year-old Afridi Bacchus and 18-month-old Jadon Persaud, were found in their home at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. They had stab wounds about their bodies and their throats were slit.
Persaud’s 23-year-old partner and another man were detained but were released without charge due to the lack of evidence. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told this newspaper recently that investigators were awaiting lab reports in the case.
Carmelita Jones, a mother of four of ‘B’ Field, Sophia, died on September 27, nine days after she was turned into a human torch. The attack was allegedly perpetrated by her partner, Melroy Simpson, after they had an argument about milk. Simpson, 34, was initially charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm and was released on $200,000 after the incident. It was expected that that charge would have been withdrawn and a murder charge instituted against Simpson after Jones’ death. It is unclear if this has been done. Reports are that Simpson threw a flammable liquid on her while she was holding a lit lamp.
On the same day, security guard Alwin Glasgow was found dead with marks of violence about his body at a construction site at Garden of Eden. A post-mortem examination revealed that he was strangled. A container used to store equipment at the construction site, was broken into and a number of items were stolen.
Also on the same day, the body of Danny Baldeo was found in a mining camp in Tumatumari, Potaro, with several chops wounds. Another member of the camp along with the ‘gold mat’ was discovered missing and as a result police believe that the motive for the killing was robbery.
On September 28, Ruth Peters, 24, who was allegedly set on fire by her reputed husband after an argument two weeks prior, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Peters, police had said, was set on fire during an argument by her husband at Piari Landing, Mazaruni River. The man was also burnt in the attack and he was admitted under guard at the Bartica Hospital.
Two women, Florry Papiah and Jenifer Pooran, were found dead with slit throats in the backlands at Adventure, Corentyne on September 30. The main suspect, Deodat Persaud, subsequently died.
On the same day, two Linden brothers, Imran and Sheed Bacchus, were knifed to death by their cousin, bringing an end to an ongoing dispute. The suspect, Abdul Boodhoo, who was wounded during incident, has since been charged.
On October 1, Imran Mohammed, 17, was stabbed to death during an argument with a juvenile, who was accompanied by two others, over the alleged larceny of a gold chain. At least one suspect is in police custody.
On October 2, Sam Lall, 23, a fisherman, was stabbed to death at his Block 8 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara home reportedly by his common-law wife, who was yesterday charged. The man sustained a single stab wound to the left side chest.
Dameon Belgrave, 21, was fatally wounded by a stray bullet fired from a policemen’s gun on Friday night, during his pre-birthday celebrations outside the White Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street. Police at the time were pursuing a motorcar with several young men inside. They remain under close arrest.
On Sunday night, Brian Assannah, 20, an Alberttown resident, was knifed to death after he attempted to assist a police officer who was arresting a man. Assannah, who would have been celebrating his birthday tomorrow, sustained a wound to the neck and hip and died shortly after arriving at the Georgetown Hospital. The killer remains on the run.
