A pensioner is now nursing stab wounds about his body after he was beaten, stabbed and robbed by a man that is known to his family for years.
On Wednesday last, Patrick Harris, 69, of 3278 Lamaha Place, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, was stabbed in the head and robbed of $80,000 in cash at about 12:00h at a strip mall located at the last entrance of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
Harris’s stab wound on his hand
Speaking with Guyana Times, the man’s granddaughter, Kadija Andrews, explained that the elderly man was attacked by a “family friend”, and also a “minibus tout” who works at the South Minibus Park.
Andrews said that earlier that day, her grandfather saw the suspect while he was buying phone cards at the bus park. She explained that the suspect “hailed him up” since they knew each other very well. They even got on a bus together and headed for North Ruimveldt.
Harris reportedly stopped short to pay some bills, leaving the perpetrator in the bus. After transacting his business, Harris caught another bus and stopped off at the last entrance. Further, the young woman added that the pensioner went to use a urinal at the mall.
Harris’s stab wounds at the back of his head
While Harris was urinating, the suspect walked up behind him and began stabbing him to his head.
Eyewitnesses related that the pensioner fought back but the suspect continued to stab him.
The suspect attempted to stab Harris for the third time, but the elderly man used his arm to block the knife. With no more fight left in him, the pensioner relaxed while the suspect relieved him of $80,000 before making his escape.
Andrews explained, “in his younger days he would come up by our back steps and ask for anything, food, fruits, anything. Never in my wildest dreams, I’d think that this young man would do such. My grandfather could have died.”
After the suspect left, Harris was picked up and taken to the Kitty Health Centre, where he received medical attention. A report was later lodged at the North Ruimveldt Police Outpost.
According to Harris’s family, he is still traumatised by the robbery.
They also said they are trying to comprehend why the preparator committed the act, knowing that the family is familiar with him.
“He threatened to kill him, then picked up a brick to pelt him, just for $80,000. God is watching. His blood is on his hands now…”, Andrews said. The police have launched a manhunt for his arrest.
