Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Canada-based Guyanese Muneer Hussain, who was found partially naked in the vicinity of the Blankenburg seawall at 6.30 pm on Tuesday.
According to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, the post-mortem examination (PME) carried out on the elderly Hussain yesterday concluded that the man died from manual strangulation.
Hussain’s relatives stated that the man, who was on vacation, indicated that he wanted to exercise on the seawall, not too far from where he was staying with relatives. This was around 9.30 am on Tuesday. Concerned for the health of the 75-year-old, a relative said, she asked Hussain if he was sure he wanted to exercise in that location given the intensity of the sun. The man went regardless. When he left, the man had his wallet which had a quantity of money in it. Relatives were unsure how much money he had.
The relative stated that as the hours went by and Hussain did not return she became somewhat concerned, but then remembered that he had relatives living in La Jalousie whom he would often visit when he was on vacation. Hussain’s brother lives in La Jalousie along with his nieces and nephews and as such it is assumed that the man had gone to visit his family.
However, as it got even later and Hussain did not return she stated, she really became concerned. “I called his relatives in La Jalousie to find out if he was there but they told me they had not seen him all day,” said the relative.
Upon receiving this news, the relative said, an alarm was raised and the family grouped together and headed to the location Hussain had indicated he would be going to exercise. This was at about 6.30 on Tuesday evening.
During the search, family members first found the man’s hat. Not too far from his hat, they found his slippers and eventually, they happened upon his body, which was lying face down in a very shallow pool of water. Relatives reported that while the man’s body appeared intact, his face seemed to be smashed in certain parts. His wallet was not recovered.
Hussain, who was on vacation visiting his family, had been in Guyana for less than two weeks.
The crime chief was unable to say if any arrests had been made in connection with the homicide as he was out of office yesterday, testifying before the Linden Commission of Inquiry.
