DPP advises Bartica murder accused be released on $1M bail

– family calls for justice

The 34-year-old businessman from Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) who was arrested for hammering a customer, Mark Braithwaite, to death on Wednesday last was released on $1 million cash bail.
According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), this was in keeping with the advice received from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.
“…the suspect was released on $1,000,000 cash bail on Saturday based on advice received from the DPP, while further investigations are ongoing,” Police spokesperson Mark Ramotar revealed on Tuesday.
It was reported that 40-year-old Braithwaite of Four Miles Housing Scheme was killed at a gaming shop located at Second Avenue, Bartica, after Raymond Roopnarine armed himself with a hammer and dealt him several blows to his head.
The incident occurred about 19:45h on August 23, at Blast Gaming Centre, which is owned and operated by the suspect’s 63-year-old father.
On the day in question, the man’s son was left in charge of the gaming centre while the victim, a regular customer, was playing at one of the slot machines.
Police had related that the two had a misunderstanding over alcohol spilling on the countertop, and during the argument, the suspect scolded Braithwaite.
Police added that Braithwaite then armed himself with several glass bottles that were nearby and began hurling them at the suspect, who was in the bar behind the counter.

The suspect armed himself with a hammer and went behind Braithwaite, who had made his way to the front of the gaming centre, where he dealt him blows to his head and face.
Braithwaite fell to the ground and remained motionless. He was taken to the Bartica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor.
The body was examined, and blunt wounds were observed to the right jaw area, above the right eye, and to the forehead.
However, Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade, who is representing the family of the dead man, stated in a release that Braithwaite had an altercation with Roopnarine’s father on the day in question.

Roopnarine later learnt of the altercation and approached Braithwaite during which he struck Braithwaite to the head with a hammer, thus causing him to fall to the ground, and instead of stopping, the suspect continued to bludgeon him to death.
“The Police arrested Roopnarine, but he was released on bail after only 72 hours. This is highly unusual in an allegation of murder. In these circumstances, the Police will usually approach the court for an extension of time for the accused to remain in custody,” Wade stated in a release issued on behalf of the dead man’s mother, Clare Cheeks.

The Attorney believes that the suspect is receiving preferential treatment because of his father’s political affiliation.
“The Pathologist who performed the post-mortem examination on Braithwaite’s body explained to his mother that he died from multiple blunt-force injuries to the head/multiple blunt force trauma to the head,” the release added.
Further, according to Cheeks, the Pathologist explained to her that her son’s skull was broken up as a result of the assault.
“We are also demanding that the Police conduct a fair and impartial investigation into Braithwaite’s death. We believe that Roopnarine should be charged with murder, and we will not rest until justice is served.”