A Blairmont Estate cane cutter died yesterday morning after his 18- year-old son allegedly hurled a cutlass at him resulting in a fatal injury. The suspect has since been held.
Collis Joseph, 40, who is also a part-time farmer of Ithaca Village, West Bank Berbice, was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital yesterday morning where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to information gathered, Joseph and his eldest son were involved in a heated argument on Saturday afternoon concerning a bicycle at the son’s residence located at Lot 82 Ithaca Village.
Joseph left and returned just around 7.30 am yesterday. Stabroek News was told that Joseph allegedly arrived with a cutlass and started to run after the suspect.
The suspect then reportedly armed himself with a cutlass which he hurled at Joseph, wounding him in his chest. Joseph before collapsing to the ground used his cutlass to pelt the suspect but missed. Joseph was picked up and rushed to the hospital while his son fled into the backlands. Commander of Region Five, Edmond Cooper, yesterday confirmed that the suspect was arrested just around 2 pm in the Ithaca backlands.
Joseph’s cousin, Simone Smart, 37, of Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice, said Joseph resided with his common law wife and two younger children while his two older sons resided apart from him in the said village.
According to the woman, Joseph and the suspect would often have arguments. “Any time he father try to talk with him and pull him up he don’t listen and they does end up in fight”, she said.
Joseph was the sole breadwinner for his family.
Smart described him as an extremely helpful person. “Anything you could ask him to help you with and he would come. Any time you can call on him”, the cousin said.
