Excavator operator charged for gold miner’s murder

Sep 17, 2025 News

Kaieteur News – A 41-year-old excavator operator, on Tuesday, was remanded to prison after being charged with the murder of Mark Benn, a gold miner of Lot 218 Blueberry Hill, Linden, Region 10.

Excavator operator charged for gold miner’s murder

Charged with murder, Dexter Agrian

The accused, Dexter Agrian of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo made his first court appearance at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed where the charge was read to him.

Agrian was not required to plead to the charge and was remanded to prison until October 30, 2025 for continuation.

It was reported that Agrian was arrested on September 11 in relation to the death of 38-year-old Benn which occurred on the same day at Big Mara Mara Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven.

This publication had reported that Benn arrived on September 11 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.

According to a police report, the suspect later visited the shop at about 19:00hrs, 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 cell phone, 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.” The police had 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.

Subsequently, an investigation was launched.

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Dexter Agrian, gold miner’s murder, murder, Tuschen Housing Scheme

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