Latest update December 25th, 2024 1:10 AM
Latest News
- Guyanese losing millions from Govt. and Opposition’s failure to to manage oil sector
- ‘Guyana’s Stabroek Block success is like a Michelin Star Restaurant’ – Exxon official
- Gaza appeals for help as Israeli army attacks key hospitals
- Face the Press, Mr. President!
- State makes application to revoke Brutus’ bail
Uncle kills nephew after drinking spree at Mahaica
Pastor Sarwan (second right) leads a prayer with the murder victim’s mother Doreen Rajoo (third right), other relatives and members of the CFCN.
The wanton imbibing of alcohol is being blamed for yet another murder, this time at Supply, Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara, where an uncle is in custody for stabbing his nephew to death.
Sheldon Richards, a 43-year-old labourer was killed around 15:10hrs on Sunday, after a heated, drunken row with his mother’s brother just outside his house. His death was the second domestic murder on the East Coast of Demerara for Sunday.
Police in a statement said that Richards and another man who is his relative were imbibing at his home at Supply, Mahaica, ECD, during which an argument ensued. Subsequently, Richards is reported to have struck the other man to his head with a piece of wood and the man retaliated and stabbed him to his chest.
The police said that Richards was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, while the suspect was treated and sent away, and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.
No one could say what started the argument between the two men, but for Richards’ mother Doreen Rajoo, the incident has “divided my heart in two.”
According to Rajoo, her son, a known alcoholic, who does odd jobs in the neighbourhood lived with her, while her brother visits from time to time. She said that although the killing took place just outside her yard while she was inside, she cannot say what started the altercation.
“I was at home, but me been in me bedroom lock-up. I don’t know, I can’t say nothing, nothing where dem is concerned, because when he (Richards) come and he drunk, me does go in an lie down,” Rajoo told this newspaper.
Neighbours also could not say what led to the fight, except that after stabbing Richards, his uncle raised an alarm, resulting in several persons rushing to the scene.
But Richards appeared to have died before anyone could have provided any assistance to get him medical attention.
For Rajoo, Richards is the second of her nine children to have died within a year—last year she buried her eldest son. She was consoled yesterday by members of the Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN), which included Pastor Nirmaldeo Sarwan, who lamented the use of alcohol.
Following a brief prayer session with the bereaved family, Pastor Sarwan urged that there is no retaliation and a repeat of Sunday’s incident. He prayed against alcoholism, which has been blamed for a lot of the violent behaviour among young men, and said that Richards’ murder should be a lesson to the community. He said that he was heartened by the fact that the dead man’s mother has placed her faith in God to see her through the period of grief.
Apart from Pastor Sarwan, the Cops and Faith team included Pastor Ganesh Nauth, Police Sergeant Sharmain Clark and Corporal Jermaine Tyndall.
Meanwhile, Pastor Sarwan led another Cops and Faith team to Bare Roots, Bachelor’s Adventure yesterday, where they met with the mother and other relatives of Kevon George who was also stabbed to death on Sunday morning. He expressed similar sentiments there and stressed the need to curb violent behaviour among young people.
Post mortem examinations were performed on both bodies yesterday and the perpetrators are expected to be arraigned in court soon.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animals!
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Ah, Christmas—the season of goodwill, good cheer, and, let’s not forget, good riddance!... more
Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The year 2024 has underscored a grim reality: poverty continues to be an unyielding... more
Weekend Cartoon
