A man, who was walking on Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, on Saturday night, was choked to death by a 24-year-old man during a suspected robbery. The alleged strangler has been arrested.
The identity of the dead man remained unknown up to late last night. Police said that the man, of African descent, was found clad in short camouflage pants, a blue jersey and a pair of fawn Clarks shoes. The body is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home.
The suspect, a 24-year-old man of ‘A’ Field, Sophia, is in police custody assisting with the investigation.
In a statement, the police said the attack occurred at around 9:38 pm on Saturday. It occurred in front of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Church Street.
According to a security guard, the suspect and the now deceased man were seen scuffling and the suspect wrapped a belt around the victim’s neck and strangled him. The suspect was apprehended by public-spirited citizens and handed over to the police.
Last night, the security guard, who works at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, told Stabroek News that she was in the hut when she heard a man calling out for help. “I turn off the light and was inside the hut. But I hear a man hollering ‘Security! Security! He robbing me.’ So I peeped out and holler on the man but he didn’t pay me any attention,” the woman, who asked not to be named, said.
She related that just after she yelled at the perpetrator, he managed to throw the victim down and began to cuff him about his body.
“He throw down the man and he start to cuff him up and he take a canvas belt and put it around the man neck and choke and I hollering on him but he focus on the man. He was asking the man for money but he was more focus on beating the man,” she recounted.
The guard said that the ordeal lasted for approximately 10-15 minutes. As the attack continued, she shouted for assistance at a passing car. “The car slow up and then turn back after I tell them something happening here. When they turn back, the man ran through New Garden Street and they went behind him and catch him,” she related.
The woman said she was fearful that the perpetrator would have turned and attacked her during the ordeal. She said that after the attacker fled the scene, she called out to neigbours and told them to call the police since her guard hut is not equipped with a phone.
The woman said by this time the victim was unconscious after the beating and paramedics were unable to revive him after several CPR attempts. She said that he was pronounced dead on the scene by a doctor.
Last night, members of the Queenstown Masjid said they recognised the individual but they were not sure of his name. A member indicated that the man would visit and spend time at the mosque, which is also located on Church Street. They were able to recognise the man after a picture issued by the police was shown to them.
The police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the body.
