Four charged with murdering motorcyclist

Mar 26, 2015 News

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After months of diligent investigation with the police virtually starting from scratch

and working against the odds, four men have been charged with murder committed on a motor cyclist on a lonely New Forest, East Canje Road.
The men, brothers, Mahendra Samaroo called “Labba” 30, Lakeram Samaroo, called “Kettle Boy”, 26, both cane harvesters of Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice; Ameer Khan, called “Buddo” Manson, of Fort Ordinance and overseas-based Guyanese, Jaipaul Datt, called’ Vickram, 34, of Betsy Ground, appeared on Wednesday in the Reliance Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus. They were not required to plea to the indictable charge of murder.
They are accused of murder on October 21, 2014 at Suni Turn New Forest, East Canje, to have murdered Vickram Sohan, called ‘Robby’, 20, a cane cutter of Betsy Ground, East Canje Berbice.
The men are all being represented by Attorney at law Ramesh Rajkumar.
Rajkumar, addressing the packed courtroom court, asked the magistrate for a speedy trial. He told the court that the matter was being investigated for some time now and the DPP has already given her advice on the matter.
Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sheriff is presenting the state’s case.
The man’s death which was first thought of as a motor cycle accident that lead to Sohan’s death,  eventually turned out to be more than that when an eye witness came forward and reported that the

young man was actually murdered.
Sohan was found lying in an unconscious state in a clump of bushes at New Forest, East Canje Berbice on September 14, 2014 with motor cycle CD 5091 on top of him. He was picked up by relatives and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital on   September, 15,. He was subsequently discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital on October 15, and returned to the New Amsterdam Hospital. His relatives took him to the Woodlands Hospital on October 16. He died on October 21, 2014.
The report to the police was made on November 22, when a teen who was with the quartet was taken to the police station by the father of the deceased and gave what he termed was a sequence of events that took place.
The 17-year-old stated that he was collected by the four men ‘Vickram’, ‘Labba’ ‘Buddo’ and ‘Kittle Boy’. He stated that he was not told where they were going, but on their way to New Forest they notice Sohan was riding in the opposite direction, on his motor cycle.
He related that as the car was about to pass Sohan, ‘Labba’ took a wood and struck Sohan behind his head. The men turned the car around before disembarking. He said that they then parked the car by a sluice and started to beat Sohan who fought back. He reportedly cuffed ‘Buddo’ in his eye.
The teen recalled that the men then held on to Sohan and Labba struck him across his chest. ‘Buddo’ then

struck him a couple of times across his head. He said that ‘Kittle Boy’ and ‘Buddo’ then pulled him to where the motor cycle was and ‘Kittle Boy’, ‘Buddo’ and ‘Labba’ then lifted the bike and placed it on top of Sohan.
All the time ‘Vickram’ was folding his arm and laughing.
The teen said that the men then returned to the car placed a knife at his throat telling him to put his tongue under his teeth. The car then drove away.
He said he was actually held hostage for the rest of the time. He was collected in the morning and held by the men who threatened him that if he talked they would cut his throat or shoot him.
During the tedious investigation the family had complained that they were not satisfied with how the investigation was going.
However, the Guyana Police Force had expressed shock with the family’s revelations. They had stated that they were working diligently on the matter and if anyone was to be blamed, was the relatives who are making the accusations.
The police had stated that they were not notified of the incident until more than a month after.  They had stated that even when the man died the relatives never came forward to report the incident. It was the doctor who instructed them to inform the police and the incident was reported as an accident.
It was almost a month after the man was buried that the family reported their suspicions and brought forth an eye witness.
Commander of Police Berbice B Division, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph, had stated that in a matter like that diligent investigation had to be undertaken. Especially when the incident occurred sometime ago and no report was made to the police.
The police have to retrace the entire scenario and get reports from all the parties involved including the hospitals, compile a report and then seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
The Commander commended his ranks led by Detective Superintendent, Terrace Paul, for cracking the case.
The post mortem examination which was performed on October 28 revealed that he died from massive head injuries, a fractured spine and Bronchopneumonia. His chest and under his arms were also red and swollen.
The men charged are some of Sohan good friends whom he used to hang out with. The family has concluded that he was murdered because his wife was previously friendly with the overseas based Guyanese and the man got annoyed because the woman was now in loved with Sohan.

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