A labourer is now a remanded prisoner after being charged with using a paddle to fatally beat a friend at the Timehri wharf.
Phillip Solomon, who is a Timehri resident, was not required to plead to the murder charge that was read to him when he was brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
The charge against the accused alleges that on October 24th, at the Timehri Docks, on the East Bank of Demerara, he murdered Vernon Cummings.
Solomon, 41, was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.
According to the police’s case against Solomon, he and Cummings were friends and both worked as labourers at the docks. They would also drink together and have arguments.
On the day in question, the men were drinking and had a misunderstanding, which led to an argument and then a physical altercation.
During the scuffle, it is reported that Cummings armed himself with a piece of iron, while the accused picked up a wooden paddle and they began to lash each other. The prosecutor noted that the defendant’s brother, being informed of the fight, rushed to the scene to make peace. It was the defendant’s brother, according to the police, who took the iron from Cummings, which led to Solomon lashing Cummings to his head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Cummings was later rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he died while receiving treatment.
The court also heard that Solomon gave police a written statement, in which he admitted to lashing Cummings in his head.
Solomon was later remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned until November 12th.
