Sir Mars’s murder: “We have forgiven the young man so that we can move on” – victim’s brother

– accused remanded to prison on murder charge

Leon Mars, the brother of murdered educator and actor Kirwyn Mars said that he and his family have forgiven his brother’s alleged killer, paving the way for them to move on with their lives.

“Even though it is a bastardly act, we have forgiven the young man so that we can move on with our lives. Whatever happens in the court, that’s a matter for the law; we have no control over that. But for our side, we want to move on,” Leon told reporters outside the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts where Kirwyn’s alleged killer was arraigned on Friday.
The grieving man also commended the Police’s swiftness in bringing his brother’s alleged killer to justice.
Twenty-four-year-old murder accused Brian Richards, a labourer of John Fernandes Squatting Area, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce for the capital offence.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on Sunday, May 7, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, he murdered Mars, 51, of Lot 211 New Settlers Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The accused is said to be married with three children.

Richards, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Bernard DaSilva, was remanded to prison until June 23. The preliminary inquiry (PI) into the matter will commence on August 7.
The body of Kirwyn, popularly known as “Sir Mars” was found pinned between his car and the fence of an apartment building at Perseverance, EBD. An autopsy revealed that he was stabbed eight times, including to his chest, right shoulder, collarbone, left hand, and right elbow, and has given the cause of his death as injuries to the chest as a result of being crushed, compounded by “multiple cutaneous wounds.”
It has been reported that, two days after committing the crime, Richards was arrested at his place of employment. He has since allegedly confessed to the murder. In his alleged confession, he detailed that, on the day in question, he and Mars arrived at the Green City Bar in Georgetown, where they consumed about two cases of beer altogether before departing the bar to travel to Diamond, EBD, via the Mandela-Eccles Highway.
But on their way to that location, a misunderstanding arose between them and a scuffle ensued.
The murder accused related that, during the argument, he picked up a bottle and struck Mars in the head, but in retaliation, Mars collected a knife that was in the car and attacked him. He alleged that he managed to relieve Mars of the knife, and in turn, stabbed him several times.
He further told investigators that after receiving the stab wounds, Mars brought the car to a stop at a location in Providence, EBD, then exited from the driver’s seat and walked to the back of the vehicle.
Richards said while he was trying to retrieve his phone, which had fallen in the car during the scuffle, his hand touched the lever and accidentally put the car in reverse, ultimately crushing Mars. After realising that Mars was motionless, he said, he panicked and fled the scene.

Nevertheless, despite being given a confession statement, relatives of the accused are holding out that Richards is innocent. In fact, they claimed that the suspect was dropped off at his home at 21:00h by Mars on the night in question. Further, they stated that the father of two did not have any evidence on his body to show that he was involved in a scuffle. “He was at home when they claimed the murder was committed… he did not commit the act… he is innocent…” a relative told reporters.
Mars, who was Deputy Principal at the New Central High School in Georgetown, had been a teacher since 1992. His death has shocked his family, colleagues, and friends and tributes have been pouring in on social media.