4 killed in separate murders

The holidays, which is a joyous occasion and a time for celebrations, turned into a time of mourning this year for at least four families following four separate murders.

Murdered: Israel Mc Kenzie

On Thursday, a 32-year-old labourer was killed by two armed men who attempted to rob him while he was making his way home in La Penitence, Georgetown.
Dead is Israel Mc Kenzie of Lot 74 Middle Road, La Penitence.
Reports are that the man was murdered at about 03:30h along Second Street and Middle Road, La Penitence.
According to the police, the now dead man was seen walking in a “staggering” manner when two males attacked him. The suspects fled the scene after repeatedly stabbing Mc Kenzie about the body.
His body bore injuries to his left ear, lacerations to the neck and left arm along with two stab wounds to his chest. He was pronounced dead on arrival after being rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Murdered: Steven Lewis

The dead man’s father, William Mc Kenzie, told Guyana Times that his son attended a party in Albouystown and was returning home when the incident took place.
“The two of them like they tried to rob him of a gold chain on his neck but it was not even real gold, and like they had a fight and they killed my son…he used to take care of me after I had a surgery recently and he would do everything for me but now they killed him. I want justice, I want the police to find his killers, I need justice,” the 65-year-old father said in tears.
Almost 24-hours before Mc Kenzie’s murder in Georgetown, a 30-year-old driver in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was killed while his wife and their friend were left injured after a fight broke out at a club where they were patrons.

Murdered: Carlos “Tony” Williams

Dead is Carlos “Tony” Williams of Lot 267 Rose Hall Reef, Corentyne, Berbice.
Reports are that at about 03:20h on December 25, Williams, his wife, Charlene Harry, and some of their friends visited a club where they were imbibing. Williams left and went outside of the building for about 10 minutes before his wife went in search of him. According to the woman, she noticed that he was involved in a scuffle with another man on the northern parapet and she tried to make peace.
However, the suspect, known as “Babba” of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, Berbice, stabbed her left thigh.
The couple’s friend, 28-year-old businessman Paul Grant, then tried to intervene but the perpetrator reportedly used an object and hit him to the left side of his jaw.
Moments later, the suspect allegedly used a sharp object and stabbed Williams to his stomach before making good his escape.
The trio was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital but Williams succumbed while receiving medical attention.
Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing as the police continue their hunt for the suspect.
Meanwhile, five hours prior to that killing, a vendor of Corentyne, Berbice, was killed after being involved in a fight that stemmed over gambling.
Steven “Shabba” Lewis of Lot 29 Portuguese Quarters, Corentyne, Berbice, was killed at about 22:20h on Christmas Eve (December 24) at Rose Hall Town Public Road, allegedly by a cane harvester after the duo had a physical confrontation.
Reports are that Lewis was participating in a game of chance (Chic Chic) and gambling there when he and the suspect had a row, which turned physical within minutes.
Lewis reportedly received several injuries to his head and mouth during the fight and subsequently died as a result of the beating. The suspect is currently in Police custody pending investigations.
Additionally, on the same day, at about 22:00h in the Port Kaituma village, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini), a teenage gold miner lost his life after he was beaten and stabbed to death.
The dead youth was identified as 19-year-old Neville Moonsammy, who had been residing at Four Miles, Port Kaituma, prior to his demise.
Moonsammy had been in the company of his father and a mutual friend when he was killed and the other men attacked by an unknown number of men.
Reports are that the trio was imbibing at a shop located in the Four Miles area and at about 20:00h, the youth’s father became intoxicated and they all decided to go home.
According to the dead man’s father, they were talking to two females along the Four Miles Access Road when his son, who had been standing a short distance away from them, ran towards him holding his bleeding left hand.
Within minutes, a number of men reportedly attacked him (his son) and stabbed him to his face, while another wounded Moonsammy’s friend along his forehead and nose.
The suspects made good their escape and the injured trio ventured to the Port Kaituma Community Hospital but by the time they arrived, the teenager was already dead.
According to the police, they have a person of interest in custody, who is said to be assisting with investigations. (Kristen Macklingam)