Divisional Commander, Assistant Commander Ian Amsterdam has said that there are no new leads in the death of the Corentyne watchman, who was found with his throat slit.
Two weeks ago, 61-year-old Vickram James, called “Sham” of Lot 102 Alexander Street, Rampur Village, Corentyne, was found in the kitchen area of a camp at Pigeon Island, situated 150 miles up the Corentyne River, with a deep wound to the front of his neck.
He was rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital but had to be transferred to the New
Amsterdam Hospital and later to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed.
A post-mortem examination on the body revealed that James’ death was due to shock and haemorrhaging as a result of the wound, which was caused by a knife.
There were no other persons in the camp.
Meanwhile, during an interview with <<<Guyana Times>>>, the man’s employer, Vishawn Persaud Baichan, who operates a quarry at Pigeon Island, opined that murder seems to be the motive, rather than robbery.
The security guard was found lying motionless by another employee who was going to the camp. However, the employee could not determine if the man was dead or alive. The upper part of the man’s body was covered with blood. The employee who found James had to go several miles away before he could have received a signal on his phone to make a telephone call.
According to Baichan, nothing was missing from the island, despite the fact that there were many valuable items there.
He further explained that when he, along with two employees and two Police Officers arrived on the scene, it was evident that James had ventured around the building after being injured. “We see the blood stain all over, that he walk all over; in the kitchen, around the house on the bed, and like he get a clot and it stop bleeding.”
The businessman explained that when they arrived, more emphasis was placed on getting the injured man to begin the eight-hour journey to Corriverton, rather than on the investigation. The injured man said nothing when the Police arrived, since reports suggest he was still conscious.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam says the Police have since spoken to the security guard who was there to relieve him and who made the discovery. “We have a statement from him and we are now waiting to interview the boat captain. We want to get a statement from him in terms of what transpired when he took the other guard to Pigeon Island and if there is anything that he may know that could help us to solve that crime.”
However, he noted that the Police are approaching the investigation with an open mind, since they cannot say whether the wound was self-inflicted or whether it was a murder. “The Pathologist did disclose that the wound could also be self-inflicted.”
The Police have not returned to the scene and the Commander pointed out that the distance is a major challenge, particularly with regards to gathering evidence.
“With no eyewitness, we will have to look for other circumstantial evidence to link someone. But after we would have gotten the statements we are going to go back to the crime scene to see what other evidence if there is any that can help us to go in a certain direction but as it stands we don’t have those particular clues that can lead us into any direction,” Amsterdam said. The Police have no suspects in the matter.
James worked with the firm for three weeks.
