Inquest into death of man beaten by mob… Jurors hear neighbours shouted for thief

Dec 04, 2018 News

A three-member jury heard from witnesses that residents of ‘B’ field Sophia, Greater Georgetown shouted for thief hours after the lifeless body of 40-year-old Nigel Lowe was discovered tied to a utility pole in the area.

DEAD: Nigel Lowe

These details were revealed yesterday when an inquest into the death of Lowe commenced at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person’s death, and if anyone should be held criminally liable. Lowe died on May 8, 2013 at ‘B’ Field Sophia.
Lowe, called ‘Harry’, was stripped naked and tied to a utility pole where he was beaten cruelly by an angry mob of about 20 men. He was left to die. His cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage due to a fractured skull caused by a blunt instrument.
There are reports that he was beaten after word circulated in the neigbourhood that he was in the habit of stealing from residents. There are no reports of anyone being charged in relation to the death of Lowe.
Hearing the inquest proceeding is Magistrate Alisha George. Testifying yesterday were Michael Layne and James Lindo of ‘B’ Field Sophia and Pattensen, Greater Georgetown, respectively. During his testimony, Layne told the court that on May 7, 2013 around midnight he was awakened by neighbours “hollering and screaming for thief.”
He added that his father, Clarence Layne, who is now deceased, switched on the exterior lights to their home. Michael Layne told the court that he called his neighbour, James Lindo, via phone, and alerted him that thief was around.
He said he also called his other neighbour Viola Chrisholm, whose daughter summoned police ranks from the Turkeyen Police Station.
According to Michael Layne, he went back to sleep and the following morning he saw a male tied up to a utility pole where a crowd had gathered. He said that he had never seen the man before, and could not recall what position he was in.
However, he recalled seeing stacks of wood piled up next to the man. He added that he saw what appeared to be blood on the man’s face.
Lindo, in his testimony, said that on May 7, 2013 at around 23:30hrs, he heard shouting and screaming from the ‘B’ Field Sophia main access road.
“I got out of my bed and called Michael Layne. His phone rang out and I went by the window. I woke up my wife Christol Lindo, and same time the landline phone rang; it was Michael Layne.” James Lindo recalled that Michael Layne told him that a thief was caught in the area.
The witness explained that the noise was coming from in front of his home where a crowd had gathered.
He said that some time after, the crowd proceeded north towards Viola’s residence. When probed by the prosecutor, James Lindo explained that he could not see the crowd “directly’ but it appeared as though they were hitting someone.
The man, whom Lindo said was motionless and shirtless, had a pile of wood next to him. He added that as the crowd moved off he went back to bed. He said that the following morning while on his way to Michael’s home he saw a man kneeling and tied to a utility pole.
According to the witness, he saw four women one of whom he recognized, as residing several feet from him. He said he did not see the women harm the man who was tied to the utility pole. A total of 12 witnesses, including three police ranks are listed to testify in the inquest proceeding which is continuing.

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