New year, no time to rejoice – mother of murdered man
5 years later…
Five years ago, on New Year’s Day, a mother was plunged into a state of shock and disbelief after her son was stabbed to death during an argument at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.
The then 24-year-old Asif Hafeez of Crabwood Creek was reportedly imbibing with another man when an argument broke out between them and he was stabbed to his neck.
The now dead Asif Hafeez and his wife Abiola Garnette a few days before his death
Since that fateful day, his mother, Sandra Bridgepaul, said New Year’s Day has not been a time to rejoice for her and her family.
“It is not a happy period for me during this time because the memories come back of what happened 2016 New Year’s morning and the entire story. I understand you must die, but the justice part I am dissatisfied with,” The grieving mother related.
She explained that there was no justice for her son’s death, pointing out that her son was killed on January 1, 2016. The alleged perpetrator, she noted, was arrested on January 10, 2016, but after spending five months behind bars, he was acquitted for the murder.
The grieving mother: Sandra Bridgepaul
In June 2016, Moses Samuels, 56, of Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek was freed after the prosecution made a technical glitch in the preparation of the charge.
The prosecution had the option of arresting and filing new charges against Samuels but this was not done.
The woman stated that she has not seen her son’s killer to date.
“My story gone unsolved and it is a very hard thing to lose my son in that kind of manner. As long as I live I can never forget it. Every New Year’s morning I always remember. I understand that he was allotted to go like that but the law is very blind,” she said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Bridgepaul recalled that on that eventful morning of 2016, her phone was bombarded with calls but she did not answer since she thought it was persons wanting to wish her a happy New Year.
After the calls continued to come in, she eventually decided to answer her phone and it was then she was told of the devastating news. Since that day, she recalled, life has never been the same.
