15-year-old slapped with manslaughter over fisherman’s death

…released into parents’ custody; barred from leaving Guyana

A 15-year-old boy was on Monday charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of 55-year-old Corentyne fisherman Asmat Mohamed Hussain, who died following an incident at Dukestown, Corriverton, last Wednesday. The teenager appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Michelle Mattias, where the indictable charge was read to him. The charge was laid under Section 94 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, and relates to Hussain’s death on August 12 at Dukestown. The teenager was released into the care and custody of his parents. As part of the conditions imposed by the court, he is required to report to the Springlands Police Station on the last Friday of every month and was ordered not to leave the jurisdiction until the matter is completed.
The matter was adjourned to September 17. Monday’s charge follows an investigation which initially began as an alleged murder probe. Police had reported last week that Hussain, a fisherman of Lot 23 Dukestown, Corriverton, died following an incident at about 21:00h on August 12 in the vicinity of a supermarket at Dukestown. The teenager was arrested that night and had remained in custody as investigators sought to determine the circumstances surrounding Hussain’s death. Relatives of the fisherman subsequently related that Hussain had been out drinking on the night of the incident. One of his brothers said he was also out drinking when Hussain left the gathering and later returned. According to the brother, he subsequently heard persons shouting that someone was on the ground and, when he went to investigate, he saw Hussain lying unconscious.
Hussain was picked up and rushed for medical attention. An autopsy conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan gave the cause of death as a fractured skull and haemorrhage. Following the teenager’s arrest, his parents also spoke publicly about the incident and appealed for their son to be given a second chance. His mother had related what she said her son told her about the circumstances leading up to the confrontation.