Brothers-in-law arrested in murder of Rupununi farmer

Police are investigating the alleged murder of Assis Joel, a 27-year-old farmer of Maruranau Village, South Rupununi, which occurred at about 16:00h Friday, at Maruranau Village, Region Nine.
Police have arrested the two suspects – Hebrew Simon, a 20-year-old farmer, and his brother Eloyde Simon, a 32-year-old farmer, both also of Maruranau Village, South Rupununi.
Investigations revealed that the victim resided in a small wooden and concrete house with his common-law wife, Judith Simon, and their three children, aged seven, four, and two years old. The two suspects are the brothers of Judith Simon.
At about 08:00h Friday, the two suspects visited their sister’s home to celebrate her two-year-old child’s birthday. On arrival, the suspects and the victim began consuming local wine (Kari) under a fruit tree about 70 feet away from the victim’s home.
At about 16:00h, the wine was finished, and the victim’s wife went where her husband was under the tree and walked him to their home. She told her two brothers to go home since the wine was finished.
However, the brothers walked over to the victim’s home and asked to borrow his motorcycle, but the victim refused to lend it to them.
According to Judith Simon, her brothers and her husband started to argue, and a fight ensued, during which one of her brothers allegedly stabbed the victim with a kitchen knife, breaking off the knife handle in the process. The suspect dropped the knife in front of the house, and both brothers made good their escape.
At about 18:00h the same day, Eloyde Simon was arrested by Community Policing Group (CPG) members in the village and subsequently handed over to the Police. A Police team also went to the home of Hebrew Simon and arrested him.
Two video/audio interviews were conducted with the two suspects, who both confessed to the alleged crime.
Arrangements are now being made for the post-mortem examination to be done so that legal advice can be sought.
Investigations are ongoing.