June 29, 2010
Cop charged with murder of Patentia schoolboy
Quancy John
The policeman who is alleged to have fatally shot Patentia schoolboy Kelvin Fraser was remanded to prison yesterday when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with the capital offence.
Quancy John, 30, of 325 Kuru Kuru, Linden-Soesdyke Highway was not required to plead when the charge was read to him by the magistrate. He was expressionless as the charge was read stating that on June 7 at Patentia he murdered Fraser.
He was represented by attorneys-at-law Donald Trotman and Hubert Rodney. Trotman told the court that John has been with the Guyana Police Force for over two years and this was his first appearance in court.
Meanwhile Rodney told the magistrate that while they would not be making a bail application, the defence lawyers were concerned with the dynamics of the case.
He indicated that on June 15 a letter was written to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in which they applied for forensic tests to be carried out on the firearm used in the killing, as well as the clothing of the deceased and John.
He added that although the police would have carried out their own investigations into the matter, the defence wanted an opportunity to do their own testing so that they can prepare their case. Rodney also said that he wanted the DPP to indicate to the court whether she will allow independent forensics tests on the firearm and clothing. He said the chain of evidence may be prejudicial to his client.
On the issue of remand, the attorney indicated that John was under close arrest but was later released into open custody. He added that he knew that both the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force have facilities to hold police officers who have been charged with criminal offences.
He said that the reason for his statement was that John was integral to the incarceration of four persons at the Camp Street Prison and they were concerned about his safety and security. He then made an application for John to be remanded to Eve Leary under close arrest or any other prison other than Camp Street.
In response to Rodney’s submissions, Prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Telford said that the Preliminary Inquiry into the matter would have to be conducted first. He added that there is no authority that stipulates that the prosecution should hand over its evidence.
Telford said that as it relates to the remand application, he knew of instances where out of concern for the safety of policemen, they have been remanded to the Lusignan lock-ups. However, he made an application for John to be remanded to prison and an early date set for the commencement of the PI at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.
The magistrate then told the defence counsel that he would have to make his application when he appears before the magistrate at Wales. In reply, Rodney said he wanted to indicate concerns at an early stage so that they could be recorded.
He reiterated the point that he did not want an independent report to be given to him but rather to be allowed to have an independent body to test the articles. He then asked Telford if he was undertaking to have John sent to Lusignan.
Telford replied in the negative and stated that there have been instances where police officers had been sent to Camp Street. He added that his application is for John to be sent there. John was then remanded and the matter transferred to the Wales Magistrate’s Court for the commencement of the PI on July 9.
A post-mortem examination found that Fraser died of shock and haemorrhage from laceration of the lungs caused by gunshot injuries. The teenager was shot in the left side of his chest at close range and several pellets were retrieved from his body. He was laid to rest on June 14.
The institution of the charge against the rank has ended weeks of public outcry for him to be charged. Two protests were held at the Wales Police Station and in Georgetown to demand that justice be done. (Stabroek News)
June 21, 2010
Bus conductor murdered at market square
Godfrey Hoyte
A 41-year-old mini-bus conductor was stabbed to death at Stabroek Market square just after midnight yesterday following an argument with another man.
Police said they arrested the person who stabbed Godfrey Hoyte called ‘Brian’ and ‘Bruk-up’. Hoyte, of Shell Road, Kitty was stabbed twice and died as police rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The murder is being investigated by law enforcement authorities.
In a statement, the police said the incident occurred five minutes after midnight. Investigations so far revealed that Hoyte was involved in an argument with another man during which he was stabbed, the police said.
The suspect was arrested and is in custody, while the knife believed to have been used has been recovered by the police, the statement said. Relatives said they were told different stories on how the killing occurred.
Hoyte’s reputed wife of six years, Vanella Carter, told Stabroek News that she received a call early in the morning and rushed to the hospital but Hoyte had already been moved to the mortuary. She said she visited the bar where he had been drinking and was told Hoyte had earlier had an argument with another man. She said she was told that the men argued and the assailant pulled a knife and Hoyte picked up a piece of wood and parried the thrusts.
After the assailant’s attack was not successful, he moved off, Carter said. However, as her husband left the bar to catch a bus to go home, shortly after midnight, the attacker was waiting and struck. Hoyte was stabbed twice; once in the heart and another close to the heart, she said. The city constabulary was notified and they called the police, who transported Hoyte to the hospital.
She said when the police arrived, the suspect was found sitting with the blood-covered knife in his hands. He was promptly arrested. She said she was told that the police have statements which say that it was he who committed the act.
But Carter said, she was also told that it was another man who stabbed Hoyte and placed the knife in the arrested man’s hands. She said it was reportedly a man with whom Hoyte had an “old grievance”. She said after Hoyte was stabbed he fell but got up twice. Hoyte had gone to the bar after finishing work.
Carter said that her reputed husband’s parents, siblings and two children all live in the United States. She said he was sent back from that country about 15 years ago after being imprisoned. His relatives however, were planning to apply for him to return. He is the brother of 29-year-old Nicholas Hoyte who was shot dead execution-style in Albouystown in January, Carter said.
She said she had left their Kitty apartment to spend the weekend at a relative in West Ruimveldt and had last spoken to Hoyte on Saturday when he called to find out how she was doing. She said she did not know of any problems he had and he was not one to speak of problems if he had any.
Hoyte is survived by his parents Monty Hoyte and Gloria Lovell, his grandmother, two children and other relatives. He was the eldest son of his parents. “He like he music and all them kind a thing”, Carter reminisced. She said his daughter, who is now 21, had last seen her father when she was seven years old but they communicated with each other. (Stabroek News)
June 18, 2010
Kelvin was following order at time of shooting – witness
Kelvin Fraser
Slain schoolboy Kelvin Fraser was complying with the order of a policeman at the time that he was shot at close range, according to a witness who was at the scene.
The police also took their time to transport the injured lad to the hospital, the witness, who was in the police vehicle at the time, said.
“All that we could hear is the police tell Kelvin ‘whey you went running so far, bai’ and the last word Kelvin sey was ‘Me’?. The police call he and he jump over a drain and we hear a loud gunshot”, the witness, who spoke on the condition that he not be named, said.
The witness told his story to Kelvin’s mother, Sharon Fraser yesterday and the grieving woman is calling on the police to quickly charge the policeman involved. Despite saying that the report would be completed by Wednesday, the police have remained silent on the status of internal investigations into the fatal shooting.
On June 7, Fraser, 16, a fourth form student at the Patentia Secondary School, was fatally shot during what police said was a scuffle with a rank who was attempting to arrest him. Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday the witness denied that there was a scuffle. “If scuffling was going on the other police (in the van) woulda step out the vehicle and part it”, the witness said adding that the two other ranks did not do this.
The witness and another person who was in the back of the police pick-up, admitted that he did not see when the shot was fired but said they were able to hear everything and there was no sounds of any scuffle and the shooting took place quickly.
The witness said that on that day he was on the road, outside the Patentia Secondary School compound when he saw the police vehicle coming. He and another youth were standing there and both were in casual clothes.
When the pick-up pulled up close to them, an armed rank came to him, slapped him and ordered him into the back, he said. “He point the gun to me friend and tell he don’t run”, the teen recalled. He said he was bundled into the back of the pick-up by the rank who then slapped his friend several times. They were placed to lie on the floor of the vehicle.
In the meantime, two ranks had entered the school and three men in civilian clothes who were there ran away. The witness said that another policeman armed with the shotgun jumped into the back-up and pointed the gun to his face. “I move it back with my right hand and he put it back in front me face and he sey he gon shoot me”, the boy recalled.
The vehicle then drove off very fast with the rank, who the witness named, sitting with one foot in and one out. He said as they drove the same rank said “look one of them dey” and the vehicle slowed down and he jumped off. The vehicle then stopped and they listened to what transpired next, the boy recalled.
“All that we could hear is the police tell Kelvin ‘whey you went running so far, bai’ and the last word Kelvin sey was ‘Me’?”, the youth recalled. He said the rank called Kelvin who was on the other side of a drain to come to him. According to the youth, Kelvin then jumped over the drain, going towards the rank and the pick-up and that was when they heard the gunshot.
He was adamant that there was no scuffle saying that they would have heard a sound and the two other ranks would have gotten out of the vehicle. He said that Kelvin did not touch the rank and neither did the rank touch him but just shot him. “He didn’t touch nobody. He just shoot”.
Fluttering
He and the other youth were lying in the pick-up at the time and they raised their heads and saw Kelvin “fluttering” in the drain. He recalled that the rank pulled Kelvin out of the drain by his feet, spread his legs and began to search him. “Then he knock the vehicle and sey y’all come out. Come help fetch the boy in the vehicle”.
The police had searched them earlier and found nothing and had then accused them of being thieves, the youth recalled. He said the police told this to a villager who was passing and the resident responded that the police should kill them. “So then I got more scared”. The teen recalled that he lifted Kelvin’s legs while the other youth lifted one shoulder and the rank the other and they placed Kelvin in the vehicle.
Kelvin was still alive at that point and he was placed in the middle. The teen said he had only known who Kelvin was about three or four weeks ago. “I just hold on to he foot because it really hurt me because I got to know somebody for a short period of time and to see that person get shoot right in front of me”.
The vehicle left the Third Street, Patentia Housing Scheme spot where Kelvin was shot and proceeded to where two armed ranks with the three other youths were waiting. The teen said that the police placed two of the youths to lie on the road and threatened that the vehicle would run over them.
He said that one of the youths told him that the vehicle stopped one foot away from them. They were then ordered into the vehicle and the last youth landed on Kelvin and blood sprayed from his chest. This was when the three other youths learnt that he had been shot.
The youth said that the police then drove to the station and up to that point Kelvin appeared to still be alive. The five youths were ordered out of the vehicle and it left for the hospital. Kelvin was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
The ranks did not inform the station sergeant of the shooting, the teen said. He said there were five ranks in the vehicle including one female. The one who shot Kelvin was armed with a “long gun” while two were armed with handguns, he said.
He said he had seen Kelvin going up the stairs of the school earlier and they had hailed each other and that was the last he saw of the 16-year-old until he was shot. The teen, who still attends school, denied that he or the other youths sold drugs or harassed girls at the school. The other youths are not students of the school. When he saw the police coming he did not run away because he knew his rights and was not doing anything wrong, the youth said. “Is just so I get slapped up”.
He however, said it was understandable that persons would want to run away from police. “If you see a man getting slap up, you gon go to get slap up”. He said that that after the search and finding nothing, the police accused them of thieving and then of molesting girls.
“It hurt really bad”, said Sharon after hearing the witness’s story last evening. “My heart just feel like it gon burst”, she said calling on the police to charge the rank. She said that she was unable to get on to the Head of the police Office of Professional Responsibility, Mohamed Jameer, yesterday. The OPR is conducting an investigation and had promised that a report would be available by last Wednesday.
“He don’t deserve to be out there. It’s unfair. I want him to be charged as early as possible”, she cried saying that her son had not even responded in any hostile way to the police but was just shot. “I just feel like hitting myself so hard. I wish I was there”, she said.
Kelvin was laid to rest on June 14. A post-mortem examination found that he died of shock and haemorrhage from laceration of the lungs caused by gunshot injuries. The teenager was shot in the left side of his chest at close range and several pellets were retrieved from his body.
His relatives, friends and other citizens have called for justice for him saying that the policeman who shot him should be charged. (Stabroek News)
June 10, 2010
Canje wanted man shot dead after attacking cops
Police statement
Robbery suspect surrenders
David Mc Pherson
Wanted man, David ‘Colonel’ Mc Pherson, 40, was shot dead by police around 10 pm on Tuesday while one of two suspects who was being sought in a Canje robbery on Monday has turned himself in.
Mc Pherson was cornered in a bushy area in a yard where a shop is operated at Betsy Ground, East Canje. Acting on information, police staked out the area from around 9 pm.
Sources said the officers pleaded with the man to surrender but he refused and police reports are that he advanced towards a rank with a cutlass. Several rounds were then discharged and the man fell to the ground.
He was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
And a suspect in the robbery, Bhojnarine `Duck’ Ramkissoon, 27, of Betsy Ground surrendered in the company of his lawyer, Charrandass Persaud at the Reliance Station yesterday. His alleged accomplice, called ‘Blacks’ is still on the run. The two allegedly robbed Canje businessman, Maurice ‘Bayee’ Sookraj, 58, around 7:30 am on Monday of cash, jewellery and other articles.
The residents who switched off their lights and sought cover in their homes as gunfire erupted told this newspaper that they noticed when a car and two jeeploads of policemen, some of whom were dressed in plain clothes arrived in the area.
They said the ranks parked their vehicle away from the scene as they surrounded the shop and lay in waiting for their target. One hour later gunshots rang out in the neighbourhood but the residents were too afraid to venture out of their homes.
It was only yesterday morning that they learnt that Mc Pherson who was wanted in connection with a number of offences, was killed. During the stakeout ranks conducted searches in vain for the two suspects at a few abandoned houses. An arrest warrant was issued for Mc Pherson who had been sentenced in May to five years imprisonment in his absence for robbery under arms.
Mc Pherson who was released from prison last December was said to be the leader of an armed gang that terrorized and robbed Berbicians of cash, jewellery and other articles. Police had a close encounter with the man on Monday after he was spotted on a dam while they were in the area conducting a manhunt for two suspects who had just robbed Sookraj. He managed to elude capture by swimming across a trench and heading towards the Canje Creek. Shots were fired in his direction and police believe that he sustained injuries on that occasion.
Police in a release said that Mc Pherson was wanted for questioning in relation to a number of armed robberies in the Canje district and was hiding in a yard at Betsy Ground. The release said too that upon arrival the police saw McPherson in the yard armed with a cutlass. As the ranks approached in an effort to arrest him, he reportedly “attacked one of them with a cutlass causing the rank to resort to the use of force and he was shot to his abdomen.”
Meanwhile police sources said yesterday that residents have been coming forward with information that the man had robbed them. Mc Pherson’s relatives have refused to offer any comment to this newspaper on the shooting but according to sources, they said that they had asked him to turn himself in on many occasions but he reportedly said he was not ready. Meanwhile, five persons who were in custody for harbouring criminal elements have since been released.
Shortly after the robbery residents said two suspects, Ramkissoon and `Blacks,’ were seen running through the back street. Their descriptions fit those of the robbers given by the businessman.
Police recovered a 12-gauge sawn-off shotgun and 18 live rounds of ammunition, a crow bar, a knife, a black mask, a black wig, and a blow torch in an abandoned house. They also found a part of a computer taken from Sookraj during the robbery as well as a bag with three pounds of marijuana. (Stabroek News)
Teen’s family, friends march for justice
Tearful relatives and schoolmates of slain schoolboy Kelvin Anthony Fraser demanded justice for him as they protested outside the Patentia Secondary School and the Wales Police Station yesterday.
After chanting in front of the Patentia Secondary School, the protesters marched to the Wales Police Station.
Intermittent but heavy showers failed to dissuade the dozens of protesters comprising mainly schoolchildren, their parents and other relatives of Fraser. “That is all I looking for…justice for my son because the police murder him”, charged Junior Fraser, the father of the slain 16-year-old.
Kelvin Fraser
“We need justice”, the protesters chanted as the rain poured; destroying some of the placards they held. “We are here not only for Kelvin” but for other youths who have been victims of police brutality, said Amelia Puran.
For more than an hour the protesters braved the rain marching to the Wales Police Station after chanting in front of the Patentia Secondary School, where Fraser was a fourth form student.
The teen was killed on Monday in what police said was a scuffle with a rank who was attempting to arrest him but relatives dispute this saying he was shot in the back. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow and the police rank involved in the incident remains under close arrest.
Head of the Police Office for Professional Responsibility, Mohamed Jameer re-visited the Frasers’ home at Patentia, West Bank Demerara yesterday and told the teen’s mother, Sharon Fraser that the results of the investigation would be available on Monday. A statement was also taken from Fraser’s girlfriend.
Police had said that Fraser was fatally shot while ranks were responding to a report of a group of men “molesting” female students at the Patentia Secondary School. “Initial investigations indicate that the headmistress of the school reported to a member of the Community Policing Group who in turn informed the police at Wales Police Station concerning the molesting of the female students.
The police responded promptly and on arrival at the school six youths were pointed out as the perpetrators. On seeing the police four of the youths ran away while two were arrested. The ranks pursued the four youths and caught up with Kelvin Fraser at Third Street, Patentia Housing Scheme.
During efforts to arrest him a scuffle ensued between himself and a rank who was armed with a service shotgun which went off, hitting Fraser to his chest,” the police said in a statement on Monday. Fraser was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
In front of the Wales Police Station
On Tuesday, relatives viewed the body at the mortuary. Afterwards, they said that there was a wound in the teen’s back and at the base of his neck. According to them, Fraser was shot in the back and the bullet exited through the throat.
Fraser, a fourth form student at the Patentia Secondary School had last attended classes last Friday. On Monday, he left home after receiving a call at about 12:30 pm from his girlfriend. He did not wear his uniform.
His girlfriend, Karen Hermonstine told Stabroek News that they were in a classroom when they heard shouting. “Everybody just start screaming. He tell me he love me and he coming back. He just going and see is wha”, she recalled. She said the ranks were hitting the others who were in civilian clothes and Fraser, since he was not in uniform, decided to run away. She did not see him again.
Shocked and appalled
Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress Reform (RNCR) yesterday condemned Fraser’s killing saying the party is “shocked and appalled”.
In a statement, the party pointed out that the incident comes at a time when the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security headed by Minister Priya Manickchand, continues to preach about the Rights of the Child, Protecting children, and the expansion of the Child Protection Unit at that Ministry.
Despite the heavy rain those protesting the police killing of 16-year-old Kelvin Fraser remained at their position in front of the Patentia Secondary School, West Bank Demerara yesterday.
“It is amazing the manner in which the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has interpreted their duty to protect the rights of our children. One would have expected that the recent national and international condemnation of the torture of a fourteen-year old at Leonora Police Station would have caused the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee and the Commissioner of Police to rein in their ranks. It is obvious that nothing significant has been done to ensure that the GPF lives up to its motto to serve and protect”, declared the PNCR.
The main opposition party questioned whether the GPF is sending a signal that they are a law unto themselves. “Whatever may be the answer the PNCR holds the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner accountable for the indiscipline and lawless behaviour. The PNCR condemns this recent outrage and calls for urgent disciplinary action as well as adequate and full compensation to the family of the victim”, said the party’s statement.
The protesters yesterday condemned the shooting saying that Fraser was not a bad child and should have been taken to the station. “He did not deserve to be killed”, said one woman. “I got to get justice for my son. I want to see justice that is all I want to see”, Sharon said adding that her only son did not deserve to be killed.
“Police brutality must stop”, the protesters chanted. “No justice, no school”, the students chanted.
A relative of slain schoolboy Kelvin Anthony Fraser weeps in front of the Patentia Secondary School yesterday.
The protesters carried placards, one reading ‘What justice can be given to a mother who lost her only son owing to the ruthless act of one who was trained to protect and serve’. Two young relatives of Fraser carried a placard that read ‘Stop murdering our youth’. After chanting in front of the Patentia Secondary School, they marched to the Wales Police Station.
Activists David Hinds, Mark Benschop, Freddie Kissoon as well as trade unionist, Lincoln Lewis turned up at the protest in support. “We’ve got to get somewhere”, said Benschop. He said the rank must be charged and there must be proper compensation for the family.
In their statement, the PNCR pointed out that President Bharrat Jagdeo recently proclaimed that children are important to his Government but the party said it is obvious that those were mere words. “Is this how the PPP/C Administra-tion takes care of children? Is this what they deserve? Are the police not responsible for protecting our children? So why are they violating them through torture and murder?”
The PNCR pointed out that it has been more than four years since the Disciplined Forces Commission made more than one hundred and fifty recommendations for the improvement in performance of the GPF. “Instead of implementing those recommendations, the PPP/C had done all in its power to delay the consideration of those recommendations by a Select Committee of the National Assembly.
It is, therefore, ironic that the killing of this teenager by the Police has occurred just as the National Assembly will finally discuss, (today) the Motion to adopt the report of the Disciplined Service Commission”, the party said. The statement conveyed the PNCR’s condolences to the parents, siblings and other relatives of Kelvin. (Gaulbert Sutherland/Stabroek News)
June 08, 2010
Cop kills teen while trying to make arrest
Kelvin Fraser
A 16-year-old boy was shot dead yesterday by a policeman, who was responding to a report of a disturbance at Patentia Secondary School, West Bank Demerara.
Kelvin Anthony Fraser of Patentia Housing Scheme was shot in the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Police said Fraser was shot during a scuffle, while an eyewitness told this newspaper that Fraser was fleeing at the time.
Police said the shooting, which occurred around 13:15 hrs yesterday, is being investigated. In a statement, the police said the ranks were responding to a report of a group of men molesting female students at the Patentia Secondary School.
“Initial investigations indicate that the headmistress of the school reported to a member of the Community Policing Group who in turn informed the police at Wales Police Station concerning the molesting of the female students.
The police responded promptly and on arrival at the school six youths were pointed out as the perpetrators,” the police said. “On seeing the police four of the youths ran away while two were arrested.
The ranks pursued the four youths and caught up with Kelvin Fraser at Third Street, Patentia Housing Scheme. During efforts to arrest him a scuffle ensued between himself and a rank who was armed with a service shotgun which went off, hitting Fraser to his chest,” the police said. Fraser was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
At the scene yesterday afternoon, few persons were aware that Fraser had died. One eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said that two youths were caught while the others fled.
The police pursued the youths and three were caught while Fraser ran to Third Street, the man said. He said that Fraser “was running” when he was shot. Fraser fell in a drain and was picked-up by the police and placed in the pick-up and rushed to the hospital.
Up to yesterday afternoon, the five youths were being held by police. At Fraser’s home, upset relatives gathered and were stunned upon learning that he was dead. They said the police had “no right” to shoot the youth. They said he was in Fourth Form at the Patentia Secondary School but had not gone to school that day. He had left home earlier to meet his girlfriend, relatives said.
His cousin, Narima Khan said Fraser normally visited her every Monday. “Me can’t live with this. I got to get justice for me cousin,” she cried. “My cousin is not no criminal,” she said.
Crying relatives asked why the youth was shot saying that the police could have fired in the air or even shot him in the foot. “He na thief. He na snatch nobody chain and run,” said one woman. Relatives said that because the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams were being written, at times there were no classes and Fraser did not go to school when there were no classes.
Vice-Chairman of the Patentia East Community Policing Group Anthony Hazel told this newspaper that shortly before the shooting he had warned six males about “‘hanging out” at the bridge close to the school. “This is an everyday practice of the young men to prey on young girl children of this institution. I have repeatedly made representation for young men to remove from this bridge,” he said.
One of the young men now in custody is Kelson John, 19. His mother said that she had sent him to the school to check on his younger brother. According to one woman, the police had gun-butted the youths when they were caught.
A teacher at the school said that they have often called on the Ministry of Education to provide full-time security but the request has not been answered. According to the teacher, every day, there are fights at the school with them helpless to do anything.
Fraser is survived by his mother, Sharon Fraser, his father and sister. Relatives said he was a quiet child who was cooperative. (Gaulbert Sutherland/Stabroek News)
June 01, 2010
Boy, 8, vanishes
Foul play suspected
Eon Prince
An eight-year-old boy disappeared from the Kuru Kururu area just over a month ago and it is suspected that he was killed.
For Eon Prince’s grandmother, Katie Shurland, 65, the boy’s disappearance was the first of two severe blows, as his father, Elson Prince was recently beaten to death at an interior location, in an unrelated incident.
The woman only learned of her son’s death on Saturday, after it was reported that a man was charged with killing him. “Why this had to happen to me? Now ah have to grieve twice. First is meh grandson who ah mind from a baby now meh son. Ow God, why me? Ah praying for God to give me strength,” the woman sobbed.
Katie Shurland
Shurland told Stabroek News that she had cared for Elson’s only child, Eon, since he was a baby. However, having suffered a stroke and battling various ailments, she made a decision in January to send the eight-year-old boy to live with his mother and two siblings at Kuru Kururu.
She said she was also finding it difficult to care for him financially and he was not attending school. Shurland said she visited Eon during the Easter season and he was in high spirits. “That is the last time ah see he.
Just two days before he birthday dey kill he,” she wept. She recalled that during the wee hours of April 28, she had a strange dream about Eon being trampled to death. She subsequently telephoned his mother, who said that he had gone to spend the day at a friend in the area but never returned.
Shurland added that the mother had been unable to get him enrolled in school, so he would be at the home of a friend and sometimes would go to watch television at a neighbouring house.
Elson Prince
Shurland said that a few days later, she went with police to the area and conducted a search but nothing was found. However, later, a teen who did not want to come forward to the police, told her he had witnessed a woman beating the child. “She kill meh grandson and like she dump he body in the bushes or bury he in a shallow grave,” Shurland said.
The woman, she added, was subsequently held at the Timehri Police Station but was released on bail. Shurland recalled that at the station she had pleaded with the woman to reveal the location of the body but she denied any wrongdoing or even laying a hand on the child.
Shurland told this newspaper that she felt that the police did not question the woman enough and was adamant that the woman knew what had happened to her grandson. The police, she added, have since told her that once the body is found, the woman would be rearrested. This newspaper was unable to contact the police for an update on investigations into the disappearance of the child.
Positive identification
When Stabroek News spoke with Shurland at her Westminster, West Bank Demerara home yesterday, she had only hours before positively identified her son’s remains at the Lyken’s Funeral Home in the city. Prince, 42, was allegedly beaten to death with a piece of wood at Ikawana Backdam, Cuyuni River, two Sundays ago, following an argument with a fellow miner. Seaford Overmuller was on Friday charged with murdering Prince at Ikawana Backdam, Cuyuni River.
According to police, Prince was lying in a hammock in a mining camp when he was attacked by Overmuller, 21, of Wakapoa, Pomeroon and lashed about the body with a piece of wood. It was reported that Prince and Overmuller had earlier been drinking, and they had an argument during which Prince had allegedly assaulted Overmuller.
Shurland said her son had been working in the interior for years and she last saw him about three years ago, when he visited her former home at Craig, East Bank Demerara. She said he would usually spend a week or less at her before returning to the interior.
Shortly after she last saw him, she said, she moved. She believed that she did not hear from him because she no longer had a landline telephone. She said that she did not know which part of the interior he was at or how she could have contacted him, since he worked in different places.
She recalled that last Saturday her husband telephoned her advising that she buy a newspaper since there was an article in it about Elson. “And ah couldn’t believe meh eyes and after reading de story I start fuh cry. With meh son being murdered ah get confused ah didn’t know what to do,” she explained. The woman said that the following day (Sunday) her brother called to find out if she knew that her son had been murdered and that the body was at a city parlour.
Yesterday morning, in the company of police, she positively identified her son’s remains. “Ah don’t know what ah gon do things done hard and the funeral expenses is a lot,” she said, pondering where she would source the money to bury him. (Zoisa Fraser/Stabroek News)
