The shack in which Leon Kum lived, and in which he was killed
Police in Berbice are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 29-year-old Leon Kum, a labourer who had lived in a shack at Kilcoy Squatting Area on the Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who was discovered dead in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Residents have said Kum’s body was discovered at around 01:00h on Wednesday, and he was bleeding profusely from his upper body. Police, in a release, have said the incident took place at about 01:30h, and added that two males are suspects in the murder.
“The deceased went to a camp house which is located about 15 feet from his camp, to collect eatables and a cup of drink from a relative. He went back into his camp house, and sometime later, relatives heard noise from the area. As a result, they came out, and saw two males (jumping) over the fence where the now dead man was sleeping and (run) towards the western direction,” a Police release has said in part.
Relatives found Kum lying face down on the ground in his shack, with lacerations across the throat and to the left side cheek. He was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, the Police have said.
Reports reaching this publication indicate that two persons: one armed with a sharp object, were seen running from the wooden structure where the man lived just moments before he was discovered dead.
According to Sattie Ramoutar, a relative of the late Leon Kum, her son-in-law had given chase after one of the suspects who was seen running away. She explained that at about 01:00h, while cooking, she heard the sound of something hitting zinc, and thought it might have been a goat. The sound was repeated twice, but louder. The woman said she looked through the window to see what was happening, but could not see anything.
“So I go and open the kitchen door after ah hear the noise again,” she explained. Ramoutar said she saw her son-in-law running after someone, but by the time he got to the bridge, the person had gotten to the road, but he did not give up the chase. However, the suspect picked up a bicycle and escaped.
According to Ramoutar, she heard sounds of anguish coming from the late Leon Kum, and she called to her daughter-in-law to bring a light so she could see what had happened.
“When she come with the light, I see the blood running, and I call my son…”
The woman said the man was in a slumped position, and there was blood in the area of his neck and on his shirt.
Residents say one of the two suspects escaped on the bicycle and the other on foot.
Meanwhile, residents reportedly apprehended one of the suspects, and he was handed over to the Police. The man has reportedly named his accomplice. Police say four suspects have been taken into custody. Ramoutar said her son-in-law was also taken into custody.
“My son-in-law name Michael Ramnarine. He was running behind one of them. He run bare hand, and then my daughter throw a cutlass and tell him not to go bare hand, but the person ride and gone with the bike,” she detailed.
The investigation continues. (G4)
