‘I drink couple well Guinness, can’t remember what exactly happened’

Sep 13, 2025 News

– man accused of chopping miner to death in Region 7

Kaieteur News – A 41-year-old excavator operator, who is in custody for allegedly chopping a gold miner to death on Thursday in Region Seven, told police that he drank ‘couple well Guinness’ and could not remember what happened.

The excavator operator from Bartica is accused of killing 38-year-old Mark Benn of Lot 218 Blueberry Hill, Linden, Region 10.

According to a statement from the police, the incident occurred around 23:00hrs on Thursday at a shop in Big Mara Mara Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven.

Police said investigations so far revealed that Benn arrived on Thursday at Big Mara Mara Backdam from Puruni Landing and went to a shop owned by Floyd Paul, a 28-year-old dredge owner. There he met a female Venezuelan national by the name of Fabiana Garcia.

The police further detailed that the suspect later visited the shop at about 19:00 hrs, where he met Benn with Garcia, and another female Venezuelan sex worker.

“The suspect purchased several Guinness for himself, Benn, and the two Venezuelan women, while they played music, drank and danced together. At about 23:00 hours, Benn asked Fabiana to have sexual intercourse with him, and she told him ‘no’ because he was drunk. This annoyed Benn, who disconnected Fabiana’s cellphone, which was playing music at the time. The suspect then intervened and grabbed Benn around his waist, pulling him away from the shop. Benn rebuked him, stating, “We good, but never again you hug me like that, because thief men does hold people like that,” the police reported.

It was reported to investigators that without saying anything further, the suspect, who was armed with a sharp 13-inch-long knife, pulled it from his waist and chopped Benn behind his head, causing him to fall to the ground, face up.

The suspect reportedly then went over Benn and dealt him another chop to his neck, almost severing it.

Police learned that the suspect then walked away from the scene and went to his camp. Following the ordeal, the shop owner reported the matter to the police.

Investigators disclosed that the suspect was contacted, told of the allegation, and cautioned. According to the police, he replied in his own words, “Sir, I drink couple well Guinness and I can’t remember exactly what happened.” He was then arrested and taken into custody.

Police have confirmed that the weapon allegedly used to commit the offence was retrieved and examined and found to be a double-edged knife measuring about 13 inches.

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chopping, Mark Benn, miner, murder, Puruni Landing

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