Three men were yesterday remanded to prison after being charged in the city with two murders in the Rupununi linked to binge drinking.
Brothers Phillip and Franklin Sutherland were arraigned and remanded to prison for allegedly murdering Martin Roberts at Kwaimatta, Rupununi, on January 10, 2014, while Alonzo Kaitan was arraigned and remanded to prison for allegedly murdering his brother, Aloysius Kaitan, at Katooka, on January 9. In both cases, the accused were not required to plead, and both murders were report to have resulted from binge drinking in the Rupununi.
The Sutherland brothers, were not required to plead to the indictable charge, as they
appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who read the charge to them. It is alleged that the Sutherlands, on January 9, at Katooka allegedly murdered Martin Roberts.
Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru said that on January 10, at about 17:00hrs, the Sutherlands and Martin visited the village farm. Upon returning from the farm, he added, the brothers offered Roberts yeast tonic, which he described as an Amerindian alcoholic beverage.
While they were drinking, an argument ensued between Phillip and three other men. After Franklin realized what was happening with his brother, he intervened, causing a fight to break out.
In the midst of the fight, Roberts was thrown to the ground and the Sutherland brothers allegedly dealt several cuffs and kicks to his head. He remained on the ground motionless and sometime afterwards, persons saw him and raised an alarm after realising he was motionless. They later pronounced him dead. The brothers by that time had made good their escape, but were subsequently arrested.
The Sutherlands were remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and the case was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, where it will be called again on March 3, 2014.
Also appearing before the Chief Magistrate was Alonzo Kaitan, who was accused of murdering his brother.
It is alleged that on January 9, at Katooka, Central Rupununi District, the two brothers and friends were consuming alcoholic beverages at the deceased’s home. At 22:00 hrs on the same day, Aloysius conducted a self-help at a farm and invited Alonzo and three friends. According to the police’s case, Alonzo, who was armed with a knife, returned with his brother and friends to the house after the self-help and they continued drinking. Mangru told the court that about 01:30hrs the next morning, Alonzo left his house and
allegedly followed his brother, beckoning his return to continue the drinking spree.
There was an exchange of words, a scuffle ensued and Alonzo allegedly inflicted a stab to the left side of Aloysius’s abdomen. Alonzo Kaitan was subsequently arrested and the weapon was recovered.
He was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, for another hearing on March 3, 2014.
