Relatives of 22-year-old Sabu Taro Singh, who was fatally stabbed on the evening of December 21 last year on Regent Street have said that there has not been any recent contact with the family by the Guyana Police Force [GPF] regarding the murder investigation.
A relative of Singh who requested anonymity, told this newspaper on Tuesday that the family had been in constant contact with the GPF shortly after Singh’s killing, to follow up any and every progress into Singh’s death, but according to the relative, even with the one way communication information from the GPF had in recent times dried up. The Sunday Stabroek contacted Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean for an update into Singh’s murder and was told that the matter is still open and under investigation.
Singh was in October, 2022, jointly charged with Bisram Paul called ‘Marlon’, 44, a taxi driver of Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo with stealing 1,000 ounces of raw gold from Bibi Acklema Goberdhan, a Mahaica, East Coast Demerara dealer. Singh and a friend had been previously attacked and the friend was stabbed. And one month prior to his death, Stabroek News also learnt that Singh was attacked and shot in his buttocks while at his home. “A guy went to his house in Herstelling and said `Pappy’, he was in the hammock and when he looked back, the guy fire three shots at him and one catch him in his butt… we weren’t there but he had to go to the Georgetown Hospital for treatment,” a relative related. It was after Singh’s recovery and release from hospital that he started vending on Regent Street near to his uncle.
Singh was stabbed to death around 6:30pm on December 21st, 2022 as he was vending on Regent Street in front of Pressy’s building. The sudden attack and death of Singh in full public view sent Christmas late shoppers into pandemonium. The incident, passersby and witnesses explained, happened in a blur and it was not until after Singh collapsed that passersby and those close to Singh realized what had just happened. According to reports, Singh’s attacker simply walked up to him as he was sitting in a chair next to his stall and stabbed him once in the neck before fleeing. The victim, this newspaper was told, got up to seek help but collapsed two steps away from where he was sitting.
His sister told this newspaper at the scene that persons attempted to help her brother but their efforts were in vain. “I don’t know how it happened, but it was a deep wound at the side of his neck and people try to help he but they couldn’t,” his distraught sister recounted. When the police arrived at the crime scene, Singh was lying in a pool of blood on the pavement. Family members, on their arrival, broke down at the sight of Singh’s lifeless body. His mother was inconsolable and had to be removed from the scene by police in order for them to perform their duties. According to his sister, her brother’s alleged involvement in the gold heist was the motive behind his death. She explained that his life had been under threat for some time since.
Meanwhile, Singh’s relatives said that coping with his death has become an every-day burden for the family. The relative explained that Singh’s mother is having a difficult time coping with his death as he was her only son. The relative reminded that Tuesday was Singh’s birthday which made his absence even sadder for the family. The family however is comforted, according to the relative, in the fact that Singh is now resting in peace and that he no longer has to live the life of a fugitive or in fear.
