A 49-year-old suspect who was arrested by the police for questioning in relation to the murder of truck driver, Pitamber Sharma has confessed to committing the crime during a misunderstanding, sources say.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the suspect is an employee of BK Quarries, Mazaruni River where Sharma worked.
During questioning, he told detectives that on the night in question, he and Sharma had a misunderstanding over the way he (the) suspect was discharging his duties.
The suspect related to the police that Sharma also threatened to inform their employer which would have likely resulted in Sharma replacing the suspect in the position.
This made the suspect angry and he allegedly choked Sharma to death after which he dragged his body and threw it into the Mazaruni River.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday afternoon told Stabroek News that the case file is being prepared and it will be sent for legal advice today. In the meantime, he said the suspect remains in police custody.
The lifeless body of Sharma, 69, of La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was found floating in the Mazaruni River last Thursday morning.
It was initially suspected that Sharma might have drowned but an autopsy later confirmed that he died as a result of manual strangulation.
The police in a press release had said that investigations revealed that Sharma reported for work around 14.30hrs last Wednesday and was assigned to a quarters within the compound. He was last seen alive around 18.00hrs.
According to the police, a security guard discovered his body floating in the Mazaruni River around 7.30hrs last Thursday. The police were immediately summoned.
A relative of the dead man, who wished not to be named, previously told this newspaper that he left his La Grange home around 11 am last Wednesday to travel to Mazaruni for work.
The woman said Sharma’s eldest sister last spoke with him later that evening when he called to inform her that he had arrived safely.
The family learnt of his death the following morning.
The woman said the family suspected foul play from inception and when they went to identify Sharma’s remains, his body bore several marks of violence and there was a wound to his head.
“When we went and identify the body, we see blood leaking out from his head and marks on his skin. The police who identified him said there were no marks of violence on him but we saw it all…We saw all sorts of bruises and marks on his foot. Blue and black mark on his arms and burst to his head,” the woman explained.
She related that the murder has left the family puzzled for answers and they are eager to know what might have led to it. “The workplace gave us no form of satisfaction…We are looking for answers. We are begging for justice….He would never go on the road and trouble nobody and we are unaware of any type of problems that he may have had with anyone and highly doubt it,” the relative said.
