Gold miner hacked to death in Puruni Backdam drinking spree

– Suspect tells police he was drunk, “can’t remember”

A 38-year-old gold miner identified as Mark Benn, was brutally killed late Wednesday night at Big Mara Mara Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven, after a drinking spree turned violent. Benn, of Lot 218 Blueberry Hill, Linden, was almost decapitated after he was chopped twice with a 13-inch double-edged knife, allegedly by a man identified as Dexter Agrian, a 41-year-old excavator operator from Bartica, police say. Agrian has since been arrested.
According to investigators, Benn had arrived at the Backdam earlier in the evening and went to a shop owned by Floyd Paul, 28, a dredge owner. There, he met Fabiana Garcia, a 35-year-old Venezuelan national, along with another Venezuelan sex worker. At about 19:00h, Agrian joined the gathering and bought several bottles of Guinness for himself, Benn, and the two women. The group drank, played music, and danced for hours. But around 23:00h, Benn allegedly asked Garcia for sex. She refused, telling him “no” because he was drunk. Benn then disconnected her cellphone, which had been playing the music.
Agrian intervened and grabbed Benn around the waist to pull him away from the shop and Benn rebuked him for holding him around his waist.
Without responding, Agrian allegedly drew a knife from his waist and chopped Benn once to the back of his head. As Benn collapsed face up on the ground, Agrian reportedly stood over him and delivered another chop to his neck, almost severing it, before walking away to his camp.
The shop owner immediately contacted the police. When investigators arrived on the scene and confronted Agrian about the killing, he reportedly replied: “Sir, I drink couple well Guinness and I can’t remember exactly what happened.”
The knife, a 13-inch double-edged weapon, was later recovered.
Agrian remains in custody as investigations continue.