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Gold miner beaten to death
– had been accused of stealing
Relatives of 25-year-old John Darwin McPherson, who met his demise on Wednesday last, are still trying to wrap their minds around the story fed to them that “just an allegation” of him stealing, warranted him being beaten to death.
McPherson’s mother, Barbara James, told Kaieteur News that around 10:00 hrs Wednesday, she received a call from her nephew relaying information that her son was being mercilessly beaten in the interior.
Beaten to death: John Darwin McPherson
She said that her nephew previously worked at the mining camp at Oku Backdam, Cuyuni where McPherson had been operating intermittently for the last two years. James said that her nephew, whose name she didn’t disclose, told her that one of his associates called and informed him that “Darwin getting beat up bad.”
James said that after she ended the conversation with her nephew, she immediately called her son’s boss to query about his state. She said that the employer (name given) told her that he received information that her son was beaten and had sustained a broken hand.
“He also told me that ‘they bringing him out (to Bartica)’ and he promise that if he hear anything more he would call.”
James said that being in receipt of that information and somehow fearing the worst, she immediately prepared herself and headed to Bartica.
According to the woman, she waited until after 17:00hrs when her fears were confirmed “he promised to call back and he did, but not with good news at all. He told me that they were bringing out the three boys who get beat up, but one of them dead. So I ask him which one and I called my son’s name and he confirmed that is he.”
Mc Pherson was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bartica Hospital.
Police confirmed that a team is headed to the location to conduct further investigations, since word is that another victim of the deadly beating is “still tied” at the area where the incident occurred. Conformation on whether that individual is indeed there, and is dead or alive, hasn’t been made.
This publication was told that three persons have been detained and are assisting with investigations.
Barbara James and her sister said that they received word that three men with the aliases ‘Vishnu’, ‘Curry’ and ‘Ronald’ all from the “out and bad crew” were part of the beating.
Meanwhile, the dead man’s girlfriend, Nikita Mootoo, said that she last spoke to McPherson on Tuesday around 21:00 hours and he expressed fear for his life.
“He tell me that he boss man give he a illegal gun to keep so he put it in he bucket and he went and work and when he come back he ain’t find de gun,”.
Mootoo said her boyfriend further related that he did not know what the outcome could have been as he was fearful that his boss had left to call in the police.
“He tell me, ‘baby, I ain’t know wha tomorrow gone hold fuh me’ and I tell he babe I gon pray and fast fuh yuh”.
However, Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the youth who stole the gun was tackled at a nearby camp and is believed to have stolen a ‘mat’ which collects gold during mining.
Apparently, after he was found, he was dealt a sound thrashing and he “started calling names” to stop being beaten.
Word is that a team then went and called McPherson out of his camp, tied him up, and started beating him too.
An aunt told Kaieteur News that when she visited the parlour yesterday “he was still tied up like an iguana, with mud all over he skin.” She said that dislocations to one of his arms were visible at three different spots.
His mother’s sentiments were: “Whenever he come down he used to stay at my home (Plum Park, Sophia). He is my only son. I really can’t even catch myself how this thing hit me so hard… and the worst part is that they stain he name.”
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