Berbice man remanded over fatal stabbing of sister’s boyfriend

A 21-year-old East Bank Berbice (EBB) contractor has been remanded to prison after being charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of taxi driver Oswin Lawson, whose body was discovered after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a canal along the Edinburgh Public Road earlier this week. Frank McCallister of Heatburn Village, EBB, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Friday, charged with manslaughter. The charge alleges that he unlawfully killed 42-year-old taxi driver Oswin Lawson, called “Black Boy”, of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam. Police prosecutor Sergeant Sherry Williams opposed bail, pointing to the seriousness of the offence, the fact that a dangerous weapon, a knife, was used and that the victim is deceased.

Attorney Chandra Sohan, who appeared for McCallister, responded, “If it is manslaughter, we know that he is dead,” while reminding the court that manslaughter is a bailable offence. Sohan further argued that his client was not a flight risk and would comply with any condition imposed by the court should bail be granted. However, after considering the nature, gravity and penalty attached to the offence, Magistrate Matthias remanded McCallister to prison until June 4 and transferred the matter to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

Lawson died during the early hours of Tuesday after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a roadside stand before plunging into a canal along the Edinburgh Public Road, EBB. Initial police reports indicated that investigators were treating the incident as a fatal accident after Lawson allegedly lost control of motor car HD 8644 while driving south along the eastern drive lane of the roadway at about 01:30h Tuesday morning. Investigators initially suspected that the taxi driver may have fallen asleep while driving. However, the investigation later took a dramatic turn after several suspected stab wounds were discovered on Lawson’s upper body.
A post-mortem examination later confirmed that Lawson died from multiple stab wounds, along with haemorrhage and collapsed lungs. It had been reported that moments before the crash, Lawson had allegedly been involved in an argument at his fiancée’s workplace along the Edinburgh Public Road. Reports are that Lawson allegedly took possession of the woman’s cell phone after raising his suspicions of infidelity. The woman reportedly objected, and during the confrontation, her brother allegedly intervened. Lawson was allegedly stabbed several times before leaving the location in his vehicle. Moments later, the vehicle crashed into a roadside stand before ending up submerged in the canal.