Five men who were charged with manslaughter in connection with the deaths of four men following a boat collision in the Berbice River on April 28, 2020, were granted bail by Magistrate Wanda Fortune when they made a virtual appearance at the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The accused, Marvin Kissoon, 39, also called “Coolie Boy” of Lot 8 Sheet Anchor Village, Corentyne, Berbice; 26-year-old Kevin Archer also called “Carl” or “Buckman” of Maria Henrietta, Berbice River; 33-year-old Ramnarine Punwasie of Lot 12 Number 2 Village, East Canjie, Berbice; 51-year-old Carl Williams also called “Aguttie” of Lot 6 Adelphi Settlement, East Canjie, Berbice, and Nateram Punwasie, 38, of Lot 12 Number 2 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, were each granted bail in the sum of $500,000.
The five men were charged with the death of 44-year-old Julian McKenzie; 23-year-old Romario Denheart; 60-year-old Godfrey Denheart and 37-year-old Kidman Lindie.
Kevin Archer
It was reported that the four men were killed when a boat transporting marijuana collided with their vessel in the Upper Berbice River.
The men were passengers in a boat travelling in the vicinity of Friendship Village in the Berbice River when another vessel transporting marijuana slammed into theirs and fled the scene.
Kissoon, who was the boat’s captain at the time of the collision, indicated that he and the other occupants were in the boat when they noticed the other vessel coming towards them.
Nateram Punwasie
As such, he reportedly swerved to avoid a collision but instead collided head-on with the other vessel, as its captain also pulled in the same direction.
Ramnarine Punwasie
The boats collided and subsequently capsized but the accused reportedly quickly reentered their boat and fled the scene after the others failed to surface.
The accused will make their next court appearance on July 12 when the case will be called for statements.
