A 28-year-old suspect is in custody for the murder of 21-year-old labourer, Joao King, of Aranaputa Valley, North Rupununi, which occurred on Sunday about 17.00 hours at Aranaputa Valley.
It is alleged that both the suspect and King were intoxicated at the time of the incident. The stabbing occurred when King asked the suspect to purchase more beer, which he (the suspect) refused to do. This led to an argument between the two and King’s reputed wife had to intervene to separate the two.
According to the police, the suspect had returned home from the interior at about 10.00 hours on Sunday and at about 13.00 hours the same day, he began imbibing alcohol at his grandparents’ residence, located about one mile away from his home.
Reports are that the suspect was drinking in the company of his reputed wife, his grandparents, his reputed wife’s brother, the victim, and the victim’s father on Sunday. At about 15.00 hours the grandparents and the victim’s father left, leaving the suspect, his reputed wife, his brother- in-law and the victim.
Then at about 16.30 hours, the suspect’s brother-in-law became intoxicated and pulled a knife from his waist and began to behave in a disorderly manner. This prompted his sister to confiscate the knife and send him home. She then handed the knife to the suspect for him to secure it.
At about 17.00 hours, the beer ran out and King, who was also intoxicated at the time, was demanding that the suspect purchase more. The suspect refused and an argument ensued between the two.
The suspect’s reputed wife intervened and pushed the victim away from her husband to prevent a scuffle but the victim pushed her back. This infuriated the suspect who then used the knife which was taken from his brother-in-law to stab King in the chest. The suspect then immediately left the scene and proceeded to his grandparents’ home, meanwhile, King ran off for about one hundred meters and fell face down in a swamp.
He was taken to the Annai Health Centre where he was pronounced dead.
Police attended the scene and when they arrested the suspect, he told them he was defending himself.
