The suspect in the robbing of retired British soldier Edward John Constant in the vicinity of Stabroek Market has been arrested and was yesterday positively identified during an identification parade.
This was confirmed by Commander of ‘A’ Division Clifton Hicken yesterday afternoon who told Stabroek News that an identification parade was held during which Constant positively identified the man as the suspect. He is expected to be charged soon.
Speaking to this newspaper on Tuesday, Constant had said that he was taking pictures in the Stabroek Market area on Monday when he felt someone grab his t-shirt and snatch at the jewellery. He was robbed of a gold chain along with his late wife’s engagement and wedding rings.
“I had gone to the bank and met this massive queue, but a gentleman there said that the queue is usually only this long on Mondays and Fridays. He said on Tuesdays and other days it’s loads shorter so I left and walked to the Stabroek Market area. I have been taking pictures every day and putting them on Facebook to show my friends and family Guyana so I took out my iPad to take a picture and as I took it I felt someone grab my shirt from behind and as he pulled it I turned around and I punched him in the face,” Constant had related.
He explained that the perpetrator ran off. “I was running behind him shouting stop! Thief!
But when he ran into the market I decided not to run after him anymore. I’m 70 years old I couldn’t keep up,” Constant said, adding that as he walked away he was approached by a public-spirited citizen who identified the thief as someone named ‘Quarter’.
Constant who at 19 years old, travelled to Guyana in 1966, had served from March to October that year in the Middlesex Regiment.
