31 december 2005
Owen Hector
Owen Hector of Ann's Grove, East Coast Demerara was not required to plead to the indictable charge of attempting to commit murder and he was subsequently remanded to prison by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.
It is alleged that on Boxing Day, with intent to commit murder Hector caused grievous bodily harm to Julie Thomas.
Reports indicate that Hector and the woman had broken off their relationship several months ago. On the day in question around 2 pm, Hector went to her home. He was however told by Thomas' father that she had gone out.
Hector left but later returned. It is alleged that he waited for Thomas outside her yard. As Thomas was making her way into her yard around 9 pm Hector reportedly pounced on her and began beating the woman with a brick. He then picked up the empty gas cylinder that was nearby and threw it at her. Hector then ran away.
Hector was represented by attorney-at-law Moses Nagamootoo. Nagamootoo in his application told the court that his client has no criminal record. This incident, Naga-mootoo said, occurred on Boxing Day and there has been communication with the complainant. Police prosecutor Lloyd Thomas in response objected to bail for Hector.
The serious nature of the offence committed and the fact that the virtual complainant was in a serious condition at the hospital were the grounds he stated. The matter continues on January 4. (Stabroek News)
Pump bandits lock guard in toilet
An employee pointing to the door which was broken by the bandits.
Three men, one with a handgun, attacked the lone guard on duty at about 02:30 h, Police said.
An employee told the Guyana Chronicle that the watchman, Desmond Bagot, 56, reported that the robbers, one also carrying a crowbar, hit him about the body, tied him up and locked him in a nearby toilet. They also robbed him of $8,000 in cash, the employee said. The bandits then used the crowbar to prise open a wooden door to get into the bond from where they stole the pump, a chainsaw and a generator. (Guyana Cronicle)
29 december 2005
Murder suspect found with gun
DAMAGED: One of the shots fired by Police while they were chasing the murder suspect hit this utility pole near the Aries photo studio
Roselyn Rodney called `Rosey’ of Lot 14 Golden Grove, was killed at her home on August 19, allegedly by her fiancé. The couple’s daughter Analisa who was stabbed in the temple, survived the brutal attack.
Police yesterday said they were unable to confirm whether or not the man in custody was the woman’s fiancé, but only said that he was the main suspect. According to a Police release, around 11:00 h, ranks from the patrol spotted the suspect who attempted to flee when he saw them approaching. However, he was pursued and caught and an unlicensed .38 revolver and seven matching rounds were found on him.
Public Relations Officer Mr Ivelaw Whittaker yesterday said the cops fired two shots in the direction of the suspect, but no one was wounded. One of the bullets damaged a utility pole in front of the Aries photo studio between Camp and Charlotte Streets, not far from where the suspect was caught.
He is in custody and likely to be charged shortly, for having the unlicensed firearm and ammunition and if enough evidence is presented, Rodney’s murder also. According to relatives, Rodney’s death and the wounding of her daughter, followed severe abuse which had increased significantly the week before she was killed since the alleged killer had accused her of having an affair. (Guyana Cronicle)
Husband strangled wife before hanging himself
Post mortems show
POST mortem examinations yesterday showed that a husband strangled his young wife in her bed before hanging himself in the bedroom, officials said. The autopsies revealed that Padmini Kishun-Chand, 23, and Shahabudeen Rampersaud, 35, both died of asphyxia (suffocation).
The body of Kishun-Chand called ‘Kavita’ along with that of her reputed husband Shahabudeen Rampersaud, 35, were found in their Lot 467 Good Hope, East Coast Demerara home on Boxing Night. Kishun-Chand’s body was found on a bed with marks of violence on her face and neck, while Rampersaud was hanging from a piece of rope in the same bedroom, relatives said.
The bodies were discovered after Kishun-Chand’s mother, Patricia Jodhan visited the home after the couple failed to turn up at a relative’s wedding that day. Jodhan told this newspaper that she phoned the home on Boxing Day and asked about the whereabouts of her daughter and was told by Rampersaud that she was at a neighbour and they would be attending the wedding later that day.
When they failed to show, Jodhan said she became worried and took a taxi to the couple’s home which was dark and locked and calls for her daughter went unanswered. She also learnt that none of the neighbours had seen her for the day. Her suspicion mounting, the woman said she called the Vigilance Police Station and explained the situation and she was advised to go in and make a statement.
A Police officer then accompanied her back to the home and made the discovery upon entering the home sometime after 21:00 h. Relatives yesterday said the husband was very possessive and jealous and never wanted his wife to go anywhere unless she was with him.
A sister, Vidya, yesterday said the latest disagreement came on Christmas Eve night when Padmini and two other sisters went to a salon to have their nails done for the wedding. According to relatives, the man was a deportee who was always involved in problems with the law but Padmini only found out about it years into the relationship.
Rampersaud, who was from the Corentyne, and Kishun-Chand had been living together for the past four years, relatives said. (Guyana Cronicle)
Taxi driver robbed
Police yesterday reported the recovery of a motor car stolen in one of two separate robberies earlier this week. The cops said the vehicle had been taken from 38-year-old Trevor Trotman at about 21:00 h on Tuesday.
Five robbers also took money and a cell phone from him at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. Trotman was hired by the men to transport them from Sheriff Street in Georgetown but the passengers attacked him when they reached the stated destination. One of the bandits held Trotman at gunpoint before he and his accomplices drove off in HB 3161 with the phone and $10,000 cash after gun-butting the victim about the body. The taxi was abandoned at Industry, also on East Coast Demerara. (Guyana Cronicle)
24 december 2005
Men shot dead on Croal St fired at patrol - police
Quacie Griffith when he was deported in 2002
The mobile unit was at the time responding to shots that were reportedly fired by the men during what the police say was an attempted armed robbery.
Quacie Griffith, 25, of 429 East Ruimveldt and another man, who remains officially unidentified, were both killed near the junction of Croal and Alexander streets at around 8:30 pm.
However, Stabroek News was reliably informed that a female relative identified the unknown man, whose body was lying at the Lyken Funeral Home, sometime yesterday.
His name was given as Mickozhia Vago McQuieene, though this could not be confirmed officially up to press time. At the scene of the shooting on Thursday night, persons who claimed to have known the man gave his name as `Mickey.' The police have described the man as being about 5'10" tall, with medium build, a brown complexion and with a low haircut. He was wearing a black and red jersey, grey denim pants and a pair of brown boots when he was shot.
In a statement issued yesterday the police said that the two men tried to rob Ray Williams, an airline customer service agent, who was about to drive off on his CBR motorcycle CE 2006 when they held him at gunpoint and demanded that he turn over the motorcycle to them. He had just exited the Studio 2000 gym, located above the Original Dairy Bar and his motorbike was parked opposite the gym.
Both men were armed according to the police, while witnesses said they had been hanging around the bike for most of the night as if they were waiting on the owner.
Police reported that the men discharged rounds at Williams and the shots alerted a passing mobile patrol in the area, which immediately responded. The two men allegedly fired at the patrol, which returned fire, killing both men in the process. Police said they recovered a .38 revolver with four live rounds and two spent shells at the scene.
Griffith, according to police records, was deported from the United States three years ago after serving a sentence in jail for robbery and assault.
He left Guyana for the US in 1985 - when he was five years old - and was arrested and charged in 1996 - when he was 16 - with robbery and assault and he was convicted and sentenced to serve three to six years. After completing a four-year term he was released to immigration officials and subsequently deported back home.
Daphne Henry, the dead man's mother, said she wants an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting following the claims being made that the men might not have been trying to rob the man when the police patrol responded.
Henry said she was told that her son's friend `Mickey' had sold the motorbike to Williams but he had not paid off for it. As a result, the men confronted Williams about it and there was a heated exchange of words until the police intervened. (Stabroek News)
Mystery fire hits police station
FIRE DAMAGE: the severely damaged section of the Leonora Police Station. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photos)
Fire of unknown origin threatenedto destroy the Leonora Police Station on the West Coast Demerara early yesterday morning but firemen stationed nearby averted a disaster.
Fire officials up to late yesterday were combing the debris for clues to the blaze which police said began at about 01:30 h in the northwestern section of the wooden building which houses the Police Divisional headquarters.
The Guyana Chronicle understands there was an electricity cut in the area before flames burst out in the building but there was no immediate clue that the fire was triggered by an electrical fault when power was restored.
Clues search: an officer of the Guyana Fire Service examines the area in which the fire started
One police rank suffered minor burns on the back as cops tried to put out the blaze and a car was extensively damaged by the flames, police said.
Prompt action by members of the Guyana Fire Service stationed at the nearby fire station brought the blaze under control.
Senior officers at the Police Station told the Guyana Chronicle that the fire started in the northwestern section of the building, severely damaging the section housing the Traffic and Certifying Office which was on the lower flat.
After the blaze: Police ranks of the Leonora Station after the fire yesterday
A Police statement said ranks on duty at the station observed the fire and managed to remove several motor vehicles that were under the building to safety.
“However, a police motor car was extensively damaged by the fire as it was not possible to remove it in time owing to the persistent heat”, the statement said.
Scorched: the upper northwestern section of the buildingPolice said operations at the station will be continuing with the Traffic and Certifying Offices being relocated to another building in the compound.
Officers are concerned about the low level of water in the trench south of the station compound which they said was to have been excavated but has not been cleared.
This posed initial difficulty for members of the Fire Service fighting the blaze yesterday morning, they said.
Word of the fire at the station sent senior officers of the Police Force racing from Georgetown to the site as firefighters battled to contain the flames, sources said. (Chamanlall Naipaul/Guyana Cronicle)
22 december 2005
'Gangsta' released on $50,000 bail
Smith's attorney, Glenn Hanoman confirmed to Stabroek News yesterday afternoon that his client had been released. He also said that a habeas corpus action, which was filed against the police for Smith's release, would be withdrawn today. The matter was set for 3 pm today in the High Court. A notice of Hanoman's action was also served on Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix, on Tuesday.
No identification parade has been held, Hanoman told Stabroek News. He said the police did not give him an explanation for this. "But I had already told my client not to participate."
Hanoman had said that since Smith's photographs were in the media already, this would prevent the parade from being an objective one. Police on Tuesday had searched the Georgetown home of Smith as well as his office at Kaow Island in the Essequibo River. They did not find anything incriminating.
Reports are that the robbers identified themselves as policemen and wore police uniforms to aid their operation. Over $40M was stolen from 14 gold and diamond miners in the robbery. Police had questioned several persons and had taken two men along with Smith into custody. No one has been charged as yet. (Stabroek News)
21 december 2005
'Fingers' pulls 15 years for robbery/killing
Johnson who is also known as 'Fingles' and 'Fingers' killed Roy Singh on October 20, 2002. The court heard that Johnson and another man called 'Buddy' went to Lot 193 Mandela Avenue to rob Singh of his 'box money'. During the execution of the robbery, Singh died.
The post-mortem report revealed that Singh, who had been stabbed, bled to death. According to the probation report, which was presented by Floyde Rudder, Johnson is a violent man and a self-confessed drug abuser. He lived a drifter's life becoming involved in criminal activities, which eventually culminated in the robbery and death of Singh.
"This type of crime is prevalent in society today," said Rudder. "It is therefore felt that strong messages must be sent on how society views this action." Attorneys-at-law Jolyon Hatmin and Marcella Thompson represented Johnson. Omeana Hamilton and Judy Latchman appeared on behalf of the state. (Stabroek News)
December 16. 2005
Baby escapes deadly Rasta attack
Best friends killed
MURDER SCENE: relatives in the house after the bodies were removed.
A nine month old baby girl was unharmed in a brutal knife and hammer attack on a Georgetown home between Wednesday night and early yesterday morning that left two best friends dead and a woman relative hospitalised with stab wounds.
Dead are Orale Mohabir, 27, originally of Linden, and 42-year-old Nigel Green called “Beres”, originally of Berbice. The Rastafarians were best friends and were well-known in the city, friends said yesterday.
Wounded is Trudy Rose, 25, of Kwakwani, Berbice, who had journeyed to the city to uplift documents from the United States Embassy and was staying with Green and Mohabir.
BEING REMOVED: a policeman loading Green’s electrical appliances in a vehicle.
The mother of two was yesterday a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) nursing stab wounds to her hands, neck, and stomach.
The other survivor, Mohabir’s nine-month baby, was left unharmed, crying on a bed in one of the two bedrooms in the house.
Sources said Mohabir’s `child mother’ dropped off the baby at the house Wednesday night but the infant fell ill and vomited on her clothing and she went to East Coast Demerara to change her clothes but did not return.
Orale Mohabir (l) and Nigel Green (r)
The murderous attack took place at the house at Lot 247 Oronoque Street, Queenstown, where the two men lived.
Friends said the two also ran the `Wisdom is Better Studio 1’ CD/DVD stall in the Vendors Arcade, Georgetown and were also dealers in raw gold.
Sources told the Guyana Chronicle that at about 21:00 h Wednesday, two men went to the house and Green let them in. They began chatting in the living room while Rose was in a bedroom on the telephone with her husband who resides in New York. Shortly after, three other men joined them while Green and Mohabir were in the living room enjoying a meal they had prepared.
The five men armed with knives attacked the two friends and Rose and began stabbing them, the sources said. The men hauled Rose out from the bedroom and slashed her neck and stabbed her, they said. She pleaded with them to spare her life but they continued to stab her about the body, the sources said.
Police taking away one of two CBR motorbikes from the house.
Rose pretended to be dead while the men continued their attack on Green and Mohabir in the kitchen and bedroom. The killers even proposed raping her after she was fondled, according to the sources.
The men ripped out the phone line in the house and after the attack ended and it was quiet, the wounded woman crawled out of the house, jumped a fence and went to a neighbour’s house where she was granted a telephone call.
Relatives were informed of the murder and the police were summoned at about 01:00 h, the Guyana Chronicle understands. Sources said that $1M in jewels and about $1.5M in local and foreign currency are missing from the home.
The bodies of the two friends were found in the kitchen, a knife still stuck in Green’s neck and his face and other parts of the body were disfigured from stab wounds. Mohabir had stab wounds on his chest, neck, face. The home was ransacked and there was blood everywhere but the stabbing from all indications took place in the kitchen and one of the bedrooms.
There was evidence of a struggle and blood was plastered on the floor and walls of the kitchen. Streaks of blood were still fresh on a sofa in the living room but there was none on the floor there yesterday. Police said they found five bloody knives and a hammer in the house.
Relatives told the Guyana Chronicle that Green wore a lot of gold jewellery which he never took off and all were missing yesterday. Police confiscated a large quantity of electrical appliances, including television sets, computers and CD burners from the house. They also took away two shiny CBR motorbikes and a car after the bodies were removed from the house.
Members, friends and colleagues of the men were shocked at the brutal killing of Green and Mohabir who were very active in the Rastafarian community. The two were also a major distributor of vegetarian health foods (meat substitutes made of soy bean) such as chunks, tofu and sold CDs/DVDs which they burned and copied at their Queenstown home. (Guyana Cronicle)
December 15. 2005
Corrupt cops tarnishing Police Force
BEST Cop of the year, Corporal 15606 Caesar yesterday flanked by Chief Executive Officer, Roraima Inn, Captain Gerry Gouveia and Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix.
POLICE Commissioner Winston Felix yesterday lashed out at corrupt cops who are tarnishing the good work of others in the Police Force trying to create a safe society.
He commended top performers at the Police Force’s annual awards ceremony at Police headquarters in Georgetown but denounced those engaged in skullduggery.
“The time has come for us to call a spade a spade and we must accept the wrongdoings because the good work that is being done by a few is being undone by ones walking on a crooked trail,” Mr Felix declared. He added that the force has a responsibility to improve its image.
He said that while the force is trying to create a safe society, there are some lazy, corrupt, rude and socially indisciplined cops in its ranks and warned that these will not be tolerated. “The little work that we did will now be tarnished because it will rub off on us”, he said. The top cop urged ranks to be disciplined and do the right thing when responding to a crime scene.
“The patrols respond promptly but it is how they process the crime scene (that is important),” Felix said. He said the Police Force needs to pay more attention to armed robberies but there is an increase in crime in general. The commissioner called on ranks on patrols to be more alert and responsive to crimes because there is sometimes a failure to respond to crimes. He said cops need to sharpen their skills and be more imaginative when stopping to search vehicles.
“Ranks need to surprise people whose vehicles they are searching and create a deterrent because this is a young force who have responded to training.” More than 1,200 law enforcement officers were yesterday rewarded with cash incentives in recognition of their hard work and dedication this year.
Detective Corporal Mitchell Caesar, who has served the force for more than 13 years, was judged Best Cop and Best Divisional Cop of ‘A’ Division, with Inspector H. Jessamy securing the first runner-up award.
President of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Gerry Gouveia presented Caesar with a ticket to view the Kaieteur Falls, certificates for two at his Arrowpoint resort and dinner at Roraima Inn. “I wish to thank the Commissioner for recognising our efforts. It will go a far way in motivating us,” Caesar said. The incentives for Police ranks began in 1990 when $824,000 was paid out. However, this year $7,487,000 will be paid out to 1,230 policemen and women.
Additionally, 19 Community Policing Groups and 25 Community Policing individuals received certificates for their outstanding performances in maintaining law and order. Dr Joyce Jonas, who assisted the police in training, was also awarded at the ceremony. Felix told the winners that the incentive was not just about giving out money but to recognise extra effort for work put out by ranks. “You have done well so we are recognising it publicly today,” he told awardees.
Best Divisional Cops are Corporal 15606 Caesar ‘A’ Division; Inspector I. Amsterdam ‘B’ Division; L/Corporal 15515 Singh ‘C’ Division; Inspector 12552 H. Jessamy ‘D’ Division; Corporal 12552 Benjamin ‘E&F’ Division; Constable 19286 Benjamin ‘G’ Division; and Inspector C. Hicken Headquarters. These cops received an incentive and a trophy.
The Sports Personalities are Male Corporal 13768 Wilson and Female Corporal 18602 Ferreira-James. Sportswoman is Constable Benjamin 17148 and Sportsman is Constable 18171 Blackman. (Felix/Guyana Cronicle)
Cops close in on hotel killer
FBI team leaves
POLICE Commissioner Winston Felix yesterday confirmed that investigators were closing in on the main suspect in the brutal killing of an American consultant at Georgetown’s premier Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel as the United States Government hoped for a speedy conclusion of the probe. “We are closer to the doorstep of the suspect”, he told reporters, after meeting, for several hours, a special Federal Bureau of Investigation which flew here to help probe the murder of Hubert Daniel Thompson.
“The FBI has promised to assist the Guyana Police Force in this investigation and we hope to have the suspect apprehended shortly,” Felix said. The FBI team left Georgetown yesterday but it will stay in contact with Guyana Police on the case, Christine Myer, spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy here, told the Guyana Chronicle.
“The U.S. Government is always concerned whenever an American citizen is killed and is looking forward to this case being solved expeditiously”, she said. Sources confirmed the Guyana Chronicle report yesterday that the motive for the brutal killing may be linked to the U.S. Government-supported Guyana HIV/AIDS project Thompson, a healthcare consultant, was working on.
The suspect was identified by police following collaboration with the FBI. Felix said the FBI help has also led to a motive for the slaying of the 55-year-old man who was killed one week short of the end of his second assignment here to develop satellite (community-based) sites to store life prolonging antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS in Guyana.
He was working for international health care consulting firm John Snow Incorporated and sources have indicated that investigators were looking to question a man who may not have been satisfied about “certain preferences” for contracts in the project being funded under President George Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Funding from the project for Guyana for the 2005 fiscal year is US$14M.
Thompson was found dead Saturday evening by hotel staff when his room was broken into after he did not respond to calls some 24 hours after workers said they heard cries and another man in Thompson’s room said everything was OK. Guyana Police had requested help from the FBI, moreso in identifying the suspect on tapes of hotel surveillance cameras at the hotel. Fingerprints and other evidence were also picked up in the search for the murderer.
The FBI’s legal attaché overseeing Guyana, Mr Kevin Currier, in a phone interview from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, told the Guyana Chronicle the 12-memmber team consisted of “experts in the recovery of evidence.” The FBI team left Guyana yesterday and Currier said they would coordinate closely with Guyana Police to solve the crime. A post mortem examination of Thompson’s body found he was beaten, stabbed and bled to death. His bloodied, semi-nude body was discovered with a big wound on the back of his neck.
Police Tuesday gave the cause of death as “shock and haemorrhage due to sharp forced injury, compounded by depressed skull fracture.” After working for various relief agencies, Thompson started working for John Snow Inc in 1993 and had worked in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, the Philippines and Tanzania.
He was originally from Staunton, Virginia, kept a home in the city of Alexandria but visited his hometown regularly, his friends said. Thompson was not married and had no children, and leaves to mourn his mother and sister. (Guyana Cronicle)
December 13, 2005
FBI joins hotel murder probe
KILLED: Daniel Thompson (Photo courtesy Kathy Strauss/JSI)
AGENTS from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were due here last evening to help local Police probe the murder of American healthcare consultant Hubert Daniel Thompson, 55, who was found dead in his hotel room in Georgetown Saturday night.
Police here have ruled out robbery as the motive for the killing since a large sum of money, local and foreign, was found in the room at Le Meridien Pegasus where Thompson’s bloodied semi-nude body was found with a big wound on the back of his neck.
Local Police held back the post mortem on the body for the arrival of the FBI as they seek to probe the bizarre murder of the Staunton, Virginia resident who was on his second visit to Guyana, Christine Meyer, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, said.
The hotel room was also sealed off for the FBI to do forensic and other tests, sources said. Police followed several leads yesterday but no one had been held for questioning up to press time. Sources said investigators were looking for an East Indian man who was believed to be the last to leave Thompson’s room before he was discovered dead. The Police have questioned several staff members of the hotel, down to the barmen and taxi drivers.
The taxi driver, who picked up Thompson from the airport when he arrived on December 1, was questioned yesterday at the Brickdam Police station after Police found, in the hotel room, the taxi bill with his signature. He was there for some three hours, a source indicated. He reportedly picked up Thompson from the airport, took him to the Fogarty’s Department store, and then to the hotel.
A hotel maid on Friday evening reported to internal security that she heard unusual groaning sounds emanating from Thompson’s room. The security officer reportedly went to the room to investigate but was told by someone in local dialect that everything was fine. However, internal security became suspicious when they saw the “Please Do Not Disturb” sign still on the door of the room the following evening. When several calls went unheeded, the room was broken into and Thompson’s dead body was discovered on a mattress on the ground, with the head bashed in, sources said.
Thompson arrived here on December 1, 2005 on a three-week assignment for John Snow Incorporated (JSI), a research and training institute contracted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop satellite (community-based) sites to store life prolonging antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS in Guyana.
"I'm sure it's (Thompson’s murder) is going to have an effect on AIDS programming in that area (Guyana)," Alisa Lundeen, who is now attached to the Valley Community Services Board in Virginia said. She previously worked as a consultant for government, public and nonprofit organisations.
"As soon as an American dies overseas, the State Department usually acts very quickly to understand what happened, and typically they will issue an advisory for that country," Lundeen told The News Leader newspaper in Thompson’s hometown Staunton. Penelope A. Riseborough, Director of Communications at John Snow Inc. said Thompson joined the company in September, 1993 and she described him as “talented, dedicated and incredibly funny.” She told the Guyana Chronicle his colleagues are “obviously saddened by his death.”
The company said he was employed as a Senior Technical Advisor for their “DELIVER” Project. Thompson’s travel to Guyana was funded by USAID to provide management support to the Ministry of Health’s programme to distribute HIV/AIDS drugs. “He was working to define organisational changes needed because of the introduction of a satellite warehouse. This work is part of the President’s (George W. Bush) Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief,” JSI said.
“Daniel’s passion was working with people,” commented Joel Lamstein, JSI President. “One can only imagine how many people were influenced by him as he travelled from country to country for us. He made friends everywhere he went, with his humour and tremendous capacity to communicate articulately,” he added. Thompson had worked in more than 20 countries in Asia, Africa and the Near East over the last 24 years.
“He loved work that empowered people, built their capacity, and encouraged professional development. With no hesitation, Daniel travelled widely and as often as possible to work with and advance the capabilities of host country professionals,” JSI added. For almost two years, between 2002 and 2004, Thompson lived in Indonesia, where he provided technical support on contraceptive security.
Within JSI, Thompson provided leadership for the development of the training module on the role of supervision in optimising staff performance. JSI said this module met with great success in JSI and he was in the midst of planning additional in-service training. JSI said Thompson was an accomplished flutist, an avid gardener and talented designer. He was here before in October/November this year.
Two other U.S. citizens were found murdered in Guyana this year. In April, Richard and Charlene Hicks, a U.S. missionary couple, were killed in the Rupununi, near the border with Brazil. (Neil Marks/Guyana Cronicle)
December 10. 2005
Man gets 15 years for raping, killing woman, 75
Kenneth Richardson
Richardson between September 23 and 24, 2001 at Wakenaam murdered and raped Millicent Subechen, well known as "Aunty Milly", at her home.
According to the facts of the case some time between the two days, the man entered the woman's home and found her reading. He entered with the intention of robbing her but when he found her awake the man proceeded to severely beat the woman, rendering her almost unconscious. It was in that state he had sexual intercourse with the woman and left the home, leaving her to die.
He then left Wakenaam and went to Long Creek, Linden-Soesdyke Highway where he confided in a friend that he did something wrong and confessed to the murder and rape.
The police were contacted and the man admitted that he had murdered and raped the woman and was later charged with the murder. When the matter first opened before Justice Moore the man pleaded not guilty to the charge but when the first witness was called, he said he wanted to change his plea to guilty but to manslaughter.
Before accepting the plea Justice Moore said he had to grapple with the seriousness of the offence and also the criticism of the public who have said too many murder accused are allowed to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter. However, he accepted the plea and sentenced the man to 15 years.
Prosecutor James Bond presented the case while Richardson was represented by attorneyatlaw Peter Hugh. (Stabroek News)
December 7. 2005
Police baffled over double homicide in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Police in Suriname are trying to get answers on the murder of an elderly Chinese couple on Friday of last week. Alarmed by neighbors and family members, police found the dead bodies of businessman Harry Mo Tin Sung (62) and his wife Hoi-Oi-Lin (56) around 5 pm.
Their hands were bound together, stabbed several times and reportedly strangled. The body of the man was discovered in the bedroom, while his wife was found in the bathroom.
When a neighboring supermarket owner noticed that the spare parts retailer didn’t open his shop at 4 pm after his afternoon break, he notified a relative who subsequently alerted police that the couple was not responding on calls. At the scene police found no evidence of breaking and entry. According to police nothing was taken from the house.
The killings have sent a shock through Blauwgrond, a quiet residential area in the northern part of the capital Paramaribo.
In an interview Monday morning with Caribbean Net News, police spokesman inspector Humphrey Naarden said no arrests have yet been made. “There are no new developments and no arrests. At this point in time I will not speculate on alleged suspects, since the investigation is still going on,” said the policeman. “This is a high priority case, since double homicides are not common,” he added.
Immediately after the discovery of the murders, the neighboring supermarket owner and his wife, both Chinese, were brought in for questioning and subsequently released. Police are baffled that this couple “didn’t hear anything” while two people were being brutally murdered right next door. The male suspect was the first to believe that something was wrong at his neighbor’s home when they didn’t open their shop in the afternoon. Because of lack of evidence they were released.
It is the second time in six months that a brutal killing occurred in Suriname’s relatively closed Chinese community. In July two boys were allegedly murdered and beheaded by a 61-year Chinese restaurant owner. The suspect was found hanging from the ceiling of the apartment where the boys were killed. It is suspected that he had committed suicide. However his son is still being held in this case by police.
Police statistics indicate that, in 2004, 46 people were murdered while 234 attempts were reported. Including last Friday’s killings, at least 13 people have been murdered and, according to police, 145 murder attempts were registered for. (Ivan Cairo/Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent)
December 6. 2005
Man in triangular love affair murdered
MURDERED taxi driver Gordon Timothy
A MAN was stabbed to death yesterday morning after it was alleged that he had been found in a compromising position with another’s wife.
The victim, Gordon Timothy, 38, a driver employed with East End Trucking and Taxi Service in Savage Street, North East La Penitence, was killed at his workplace, allegedly by a jealous assailant about 03:30 h.
The woman at the centre of the triangular affair was also wounded in the attack. Reports said she and Timothy were in the bottom flat on the business place when he was fatally wounded with a knife and she suffered wounds to her stomach.
They were both rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation but he succumbed before receiving medical attention while she remained a patient in the High Dependency Unit where she was said to be recovering after surgery. Up to press time, Police were still hunting the man fingered in the killing.
December 1. 2005
Cop raped girl at East La Penitence Police Station -court hears
Dwayne Jeffrey, 25, of Cummings Park, Sophia, was not required to plead to the indictable charge of rape and he was later released on $60,000 bail by Magistrate Bertlyn Reynolds. It is alleged that on September 24, Jeffrey had carnal knowledge of the teenager without her consent.
According to reports, the girl was imprisoned at the all-female lock-ups when Jeffrey committed the act. The matter was reported and following investigations Jeffrey was arrested and charged. Attorney-at-law Simone Morris-Ramlall in her application told the court that her client is a serving member of the police force.
She stated that her client is a second year Public Management student at the University of Guyana.