Four men are now in police custody in connection with the murder of a teenaged gold miner they had beaten after accusing him of stealing on Tuesday at their Konawaruk backdam, Potaro mining camp.
Dead is Azaad Potter, 17, of Lot 38 Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.
According to a police statement on the murder, Potter was allegedly beaten by a group of men who had accused
him of stealing articles from their mining camp. He later succumbed to his injuries and four men are in police custody assisting with investigations.
According to relatives, Potter left for Konawaruk two weeks ago to work with a man known to the family.
The dead boy’s grandmother, Bibi Potter, told Stabroek News that Azaad’s employer visited their home at 8am on Tuesday morning and complained that Azaad was accused of stealing an iPod, a quantity of gold and a cellular phone. However, Bibi said when they spoke with Azaad, he denied the allegation. “I even tell the bossman that they could carry he to the station if they believe he steal from them,” Bibi added.
However, at 4pm on Tuesday, Bibi stated that the employer paid the Potter family another visit and informed them of the teen’s death. “I can’t see for a little thing they kill him,” she said, adding, “and is four men beat he,” even after he denied the allegation. T
he woman further questioned the men’s choice to attack her grandson, instead of reporting the matter to the police.
Azaad’s murder follows several others recently in the interior.
Joseph Nurse, 35, of Lot 24 Belmonte, Mahaica, who was one of three miners held at gunpoint, beaten and robbed at their 14 Miles mining camp on September 18. Nurse died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital four days later.
Another miner Devendra Alfred, 22, of Lot 115 Roadmaster Street, ‘C’ Field Leonora, died in his mother’s mining camp at Sandhills, Cuyuni, Mazaruni, on June 16, 2014, after allegedly being stabbed by his 19-year-old brother who also worked at the camp. The brothers were said to have been drinking.
Following an argument with another man, Nickel Leacock, 20, of Lot 111 Miles Mahdia, was found dead with stab wounds to his back on August 19, 2014, along the Blackwater trail by a group of miners.
