Police granted permission to further detain CPG member

Soesdyke fatal stabbing

Several days after 15-year-old Ricardo Singh of Diamond, East Bank Demerara was fatally stabbed at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, a member of a community policing group, who was arrested in connection with the murder, remains in custody.
Based on reports received, the 72-hour detention period has elapsed, but the Police were granted court approval to further detain the young rural constable (RC). Guyana Times understands that the teen’s friend, who had also been taken into custody, has been released as Police continue their investigations.
Information reaching this publication revealed that on the night of the fatal stabbing, the rural constable was reportedly seen using excessive force on the now dead teen after the teen had resisted arrest. Guyana Times was told that the young man had had an altercation with another young man at a wedding house in Soesdyke, EBD, and the Police were consequently summoned.
It is unclear whether the deceased young man was wounded during the scuffle at the wedding house or during his arrest by the rural constable who is now in Police

custody.
When contacted, ‘A’ Division Commander, Leslie James, confirmed that investigations into the teen’s murder are continuing, while noting that, before charges are instituted, the Police have to make sure that the matter had been properly investigated. The deceased teenager, who also used to be referred to as “Cardo”, of Lot 63 Avenues A & B, Diamond New Housing Scheme, EBD, was stabbed several times, including once to his abdomen.
The former Diamond Secondary School student and his friends had left their respective homes on Sunday last with the intention of “taking a lime” at the Linden-Soesdyke Highway Junction, but had instead gone to the wedding house, which was close by.
The initial report is that, while there, a gang of men allegedly attempted to relieve one of the teen’s friends of his gold chain and cash, and the deceased teen intervened. His friend whom he was helping reportedly ran away, leaving him behind.
The deceased young man, who would have been celebrating his 16th birthday on Thursday last, was subsequently found in a nearby trench with his intestines protruding. He was picked up and taken to the Diamond hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Conversely, it was reported that the young man had been misbehaving at the wedding house and the Police were called in to intervene. However, at the time, members of the Community Policing Group (CPG) were patrolling the area, and they reportedly arrested the young man. He was placed in the back of their motor vehicle, and as it took off for the Timehri Police Station, he reportedly jumped out, but instead of stopping to check on the young man, the vehicle sped away.
It is expected that the teen would be cremated on Sunday.