The 21-year-old university student who allegedly stabbed Kareem Kayum, 24, a goldsmith of Regent Street, Bourda, was yesterday remanded to prison on the charge of murder.
Afzal Deendial of Block 8, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where the indictable charge was read to him.
The charge against Deendial states that on August 12, at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, while armed with a knife, he murdered Kareem Kayum.
The accused was not required to plead and was remanded to prison until September 19 when the matter will be called again.
According to the prosecution, on the day in question, at about 19:00hrs, Kayum and the accused, along with other friends were at the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) at Woolford Avenue, George-town, playing cricket when the accused started to tease Kayum.
Kayum responded by slapping Deendial behind the head and running away. Deendial subsequently armed himself with a knife, walked behind the victim and dealt him a stab to the left side of the chest, causing the man to fall to the ground.
According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), during the game of cricket, Kayum had complained that the suspect was calling him unsavoury names and as such, the suspect was cautioned by an elder to desist from doing so.
The statement added that a scuffle subsequently ensued between Kayum and Deendial and that the suspect was seen with a knife in his hand and suddenly, a reddish substance that appeared to be blood was seen coming from the victim’s chest area.
Kayum was immediately picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.
