Three persons including two women were arrested for the murder of 29-year-old Nico Layne, a labourer of Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Layne was reportedly killed in the wee hours of Wednesday on Leopold Street, Georgetown.
Based on reports received, at 03:30h on the day in question, Layne was on High Street playing a game of cards with a group of men when he realised that his bicycle was missing.
Dead: Nico Layne
This caused him to go in search of the bicycle. Eyewitnesses said around the time mentioned, Layne was seen running on High Street heading south then east on Leopold Street.
From reports provided by the Police, he was being chased by the three suspects who were armed with a knife and a cutlass.
Police said while running, Layne fell onto the roadway. At this point, the three armed persons caught up with him and dealt several chops and stabs about his body. After committing the act, the perpetrators made good their escape, leaving Layne lying on the roadway in a pool of blood.
The injured man was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was later pronounced dead.
The Police stated that the man was stabbed under his right armpit, once to his upper left side chest and thrice to his right forearm.
The three suspects were later arrested. At the time of their arrest, one was seen with a wound to his forehead and on his left side face. He was taken to the hospital where he received medical attention.
He reportedly claimed that Layne attempted to rob his reputed wife at the Stabroek Market area and he intervened and a scuffle ensued, resulting in him being wounded.
The fatal stabbing, Police stated, was captured on CCTV. The suspects, Osafi Johnson, 28, of East Ruimveldt Georgetown; Randy Tafari called “Randy Robertson”, 20, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and Natasha Taitt, 32, a vendor of 707 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, were remanded to prison for the murder of Layne.
They will return to court on May 11, 2021.
Meanwhile, Layne was no stranger to the law. In March 2016 he was found guilty of robbing Ivelaw Hartman of a mobile phone and $19,000 in cash. He was armed with a knife when he committed the act. He was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment.
In November 2015, he was also found guilty of armed robbery. He was charged with robbing taxi driver Shafiek Mohammed of several items and cash. In that matter, he was given a 58-month jail term by Magistrate Judy Latchman.
