The prime suspect in the murder of Dr Colin Roach was arrested this morning.

The man was arrested at the “back track” route in Berbice, attempting to flee to Suriname.

Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin.

This newspaper has learned that his name is Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin.

In a brief statement, the Guyana Police Force said, “Acting on intelligence received, on Friday the 5th November 2021 about 05:45 hrs, investigators from the Major Crimes Unit, CID Headquarters and ranks from Region 6 conducted an operation in Berbice where the prime suspect was promptly arrested and taken into custody.”

Police investigators yesterday recovered Dr Roach’s car, which was stolen after he was killed, while efforts continued to find the prime suspect in the crime.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday confirmed to Stabroek News that Roach’s vehicle, PXX 4000, was found at 00.15 hrs yesterday on Schoonard Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

It is believed that the driver abandoned the vehicle after it got stuck in a mud bank. The bumper, number plates and keys were said to be missing.

Sources told Stabroek New that the prime suspect is known to Roach.

While investigators had managed to locate his address, there was no sign of him at the location, only his vehicle.

It is believed that the prime suspect and the other occupants of his house fled the area.

The suspect’s vehicle, this newspaper was told, had been observed at the doctor’s office on Tuesday night.

As the investigation continues, Blanhum said the three suspects, including two of Roach’s employees, who were arrested for questioning remained in police custody up to yesterday afternoon.

The lifeless body of Roach was discovered at his Kingston, Georgetown Inter-national Medical Clinic around 22.30 hrs on Tuesday.

His head bore a wound. The suspects also stole his two cellular phones.

It is suspected that he was attacked sometime between 15:00 hrs and 22.20 hrs at the clinic, which is situated at Lot 111 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

The motive for Roach’s killing remained unknown up to yesterday.

The police, in a statement, had said that the employees in custody reported that the clinic was opened for business between 07:00 hrs and 15:00 hrs on Tuesday.

After the clinic closed, the police said, one of Roach’s employees went out for a while and the other retired to his living quarters, which are situated in the upper flat of the three-storey building that houses the clinic.

The men left Roach in his office in the middle flat of the building, the police noted.

It is alleged that about 20.00 hrs a male was seen exiting the building. The man returned about seven minutes later and re-entered the clinic.

More than two hours after, the police said, Roach’s vehicle was driven out of Duke Street in a northern direction

According to the police, it was further observed that the lights in the doctor’s office were still on. This prompted one of his male workers to call Roach on his cellular phone but he got no answer, the police said.

As a result, the other male employee was then alerted and using his office key, he went to switch off the lights but discovered Roach’s body.

Roach was well-known in the medical fraternity for his contributions in his field.

He previously worked as the Director of the National Public Health Laboratory and was a Consultant to the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

He was also a former Chairman of the National Sports Commission.

Following his arrest during a bid to cross over to Suriname, the prime suspect in the killing of Dr Colin Roach has reportedly told investigators he struck the now dead man to the head after he made unwanted sexual advances towards him.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed to Stabroek News that 25-year-old Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin was arrested by the police in Berbice yesterday morning. Blanhum also confirmed the arrest of another suspect, identified as 18-year-old Lenrick Mosai Byass, who allegedly helped Franklin to rob the doctor after he was killed.

While the alleged accomplice has claimed that they went to the clinic with the intention of robbing Roach, Franklin has denied it.

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