– best friends questioned
As investigations continue into the murder of Puranand Baljit, 25, who was stabbed to death while sleeping at his home, the Police have arrested one person as robbery has been established as motive.
Acting Crime Chief Hugh Jessemy told Guyana Times Saturday that several persons were questioned.
He pointed out that while he could not divulge much information about investigations, he is optimistic of a breakthrough sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile Guyana Times understands that two of the dead man’s close friends were detained on Friday but subsequently released. In addition, one girlfriend was also questioned.
A source claimed that the young lady was arrested and is being grilled for the murder but the acting Crime Chief refuted the claims, reiterating that no one was arrested.
Guyana Times was told that the person in custody is a Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara resident.
The suspect is said to be of Amerindian descent and had allegedly removed a lap top and mobile phone from the dead man’s room.
However, as investigators continue their probe, it was also confirmed that the 12-inch knife found on the ledge of the window is not the murder weapon. The knife did not have any blood stain thus leaving Police them to believe that it was planted but was not used.
In addition, while a pink mobile phone was reportedly found in the room of the dead man, the police have confirmed that it was not handed over to investigators as they continue their probe. Although the young man repaired computers and mobile phones at home, his relatives cannot confirm if the phone was collected by the young man to be repaired. In addition, friends of the dead man are arguing that Baljit always leaves his bedroom door open and it was very strange that on the night he was killed, it was locked, and more surprisingly, the windows were left opened.
Friends and relatives of Baljit are also re-examining the stabbing incident. As they ponder over the stabbing, there are more questions than answers.
The motive for the murder is yet to be established since the parents claimed that he did not have any enemies. The young man was successful at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate by gaining 10 subjects but resorted to assist his father in the family business.
His biological mother died when he was just two-years-old and was raised by his grandmother, who resides in Berbice. He moved to Soesdyke when he was 13. The young man, also called Andrew, was stabbed at least seven times to his neck, chest and abdomen while he was asleep on Thursday evening at about 21:30h. Based on reports, the perpetrator(s) used concrete blocks (for height) to gain access through his bedroom window.
His stepmother Simone Baljit and his father Jackie told investigators that they retired to bed after watching a movie on television at about 21:00h and was awaked by a loud scream emanating from Baljit’s room.
They waited for some time and as the place remained quite, they rushed out to check on him but the door to his bedroom was locked. The father rushed back into his room and jumped through his bedroom window into the yard.
When there he went to his son’s window and as he looked in he saw blood everywhere. He climbed through and found his son lying in a pool of blood on his bed. He was already dead but was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where doctors confirmed his demise. (Bhisham Mohamed)
