– woman in custody
A city resident was stabbed to death early Sunday morning at Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni while relieving himself and a female acquaintance, who is the main suspect, is in police custody.
Dead is Christopher Craig called `Yankee’, 42, of John Street, Campbellville.
Based on a police press release issued yesterday, Craig, who was found lying in front of a shop, sustained a single stab wound to the left side of his chest. His body was later taken to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary and transported to the Lyken Funeral Home in Georgetown today. A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted tomorrow.
Contacted, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said that acting on information received, police arrested a woman in connection with the death of Craig, who operated a shop at Arimu. Based on what this newspaper was told the father of two was killed in front of his shop.
Persaud said that the woman, who was closely associated with Craig, denied knowledge of the incident when questioned by the police.
At the man’s home, relatives were in disbelief at his death. His niece Shondell Payne recounted to Stabroek News that a call was made to relatives on Sunday and while the caller informed them of his death, the person did not go into much details. She said that based on what they heard, Craig went to urinate around 1.30 am and shortly after screams were heard.
She said the persons who responded to the screams did not see anyone fleeing but found Craig on the ground bleeding. She said that they were told that her uncle took three breaths before he died.
Later, his wife Jackline Collins said that the caller asked her if she had spoken to her reputed husband the night before (Saturday night) and after responding in the negative she was told that he was stabbed and had died. The woman said she asked the female caller if he had any problems with anyone and she said no.
She recalled that he left their Campbellville home for the interior more than a week ago and they parted ways in good spirits.
Collins said she later learnt that it was a woman who allegedly carried out the attack.
He had been operating his business about three years now and celebrated his birthday the day before he was killed.
According to recently released police date, the number of murders committed in the interior at the end of October was 24 in comparison with 37 for the same period last year.
The last murder the interior division recorded was that of Aubrey Benjamin, 16, of Dog Point, Bartica, which reportedly occurred at about 01:00 hrs on November 10, 2012 at Flower Creek, Cuyuni, Backdam.
Stab wounds were seen on his body and reports are that the teen was stabbed after he asked his employer, a Brazilian national, for his wages.
