8 murders in past 9 days

August 19, 2014 By GuyanaTimes

Jennifer Mendonca

BY JOMO PAUL

As police intensify their investigation into the killing of a businessman Monday afternoon on Vlissengen Road statistics has shown that there have been at least none murders in the past nine days.

The latest murder was recorded on Tuesday when the body of Nickel Leacock, 20 years, of 111 Miles, Mahdia, was found at about 07:45h along a trail at Blackwater Backdam, Konawaruk, Mahdia, with suspected stab wounds.

Relatives of slain businessman Ashook Ragghu remain tight-lipped on the affairs of the businessman. At about 13:00h on Monday, Ragghu, 43 years old, and his wife Shyrazabin Ragghu, 49, were in a motor vehicle at a traffic light at the junction of Regent Road and Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, when they were attacked by two men on CG motorcycles.

Police say that two men rode up and opened fire on the vehicle, fatally hitting Ragghu. His wife Shyrazabin also sustained a gunshot wound to her foot and is undergoing treatment at a city hospital.

The Pike Street home of slain businessman Ashook Ragghu

When Guyana Times visited their Pike Street, Campbellville home, one of the dead man’s daughters declined to comment.

However, Guyana Times spoke to a neighbour who explained that she did not know much about the family.

The woman pointed out that the family moved in the area in the first quarter of 2014 and have since been reserved.

She had told reporters on the day of the incident that her parents had travelled to a city bank to withdraw a large sum of money to pay workers and buy groceries.

The distraught young woman explained that her father has a business in the interior and would usually come to the city to transact business. Police sources have confirmed that one man has been arrested in connection with the robbery/murder.

Dead GWI Employee Marvin Cumbermack

Murder spike

Meanwhile, for the past nine days there have been several murders across the country. On August 9, the body of Jennifer Mendonca, 57 years old, was discovered in her Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home at about 22:00h.

John Hertsberger, an 18-year-old Handyman of Duke Street Kingston has since appeared before the court charged with her murder. Ayube Khan also called “Haman”, 53, of Lot 29 Genieve Village, Canal Number One Polder; West Bank Demerara (WBD) died after he was severely beaten by a relative during a drinking spree at a house at Canal Number One, WBD.

Marvin Cumbermack, an employee of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) was also shot dead in Sophia after being robbed.

On August 11, 51-year-old Rudolph Persaud was also fatally shot while an acquaintance was shot by another man while imbibing at Northern Hogg Island, Essequibo River.

On August 13, Deochand Singh, 48, also called “Mike” of Free Yard Port Mourant was fatally beaten, chopped and stabbed by his stepson Inderjeet Sewdhan, 20, who resided with him. Police said in a release that the murder occurred around 20:30h. The suspect has been arrested and is in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

On Friday last the body of Pradika Persaud called “Simone” of Orangestein, East Bank Essequibo, was found on the roadway about 23:30h. The woman was clad in a short pants and a top. She had bruises about her body and her neck bore small cut marks. Also on Friday last Popular street dancer, Allan Gobin called “Antics,” was found murdered in a house at Moore Street, East Canje.

The body had several marks of violence, including what appeared to be a hit to the head. The discovery was made by his uncle, Davis Ramdial. According to the 52-year-old Ramdial, he had been in search of Gobin since Friday morning. “Ah look everywhere I know he does drink.”

Earlier this month, the Police had reported that there has been an eight per cent drop in serious crimes for the first seven months of the year.

According to the Police Force, the total number of reports of serious crimes made between January 1 and July 31 was 2134 compared to 2317 for the same period in 2013. However, by the end of July, over 80 murders had been recorded which represents a 10 per cent increase in the murder rate over the same period for the previous year.

“Of the 80 murders committed unto July 2014, three were of the execution type, 16 were committed during robberies, 21 were domestic related, 17 were of the disorderly type and 23 are so far undetermined,” the Police Force said in a statement.

Additionally, at the end of July, robbery under arms saw an increased by 16 per cent with 679 reports compared to 585 for the same period in 2013.

The Police statement said “the statistics indicate an increase of 27 per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms and a two per cent decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used.

Topics

8 murders in past 9 days

BY JOMO PAUL

As police intensify their investigation into the killing of a businessman Monday afternoon on Vlissengen Road statistics has shown that there have been at least none murders in the past nine days.

The latest murder was recorded on Tuesday when the body of Nickel Leacock, 20 years, of 111 Miles, Mahdia, was found at about 07:45h along a trail at Blackwater Backdam, Konawaruk, Mahdia, with suspected stab wounds.

Police say that two men rode up and opened fire on the vehicle, fatally hitting Ragghu. His wife Shyrazabin also sustained a gunshot wound to her foot and is undergoing treatment at a city hospital.

When Guyana Times visited their Pike Street, Campbellville home, one of the dead man’s daughters declined to comment.

However, Guyana Times spoke to a neighbour who explained that she did not know much about the family.

The woman pointed out that the family moved in the area in the first quarter of 2014 and have since been reserved.

She had told reporters on the day of the incident that her parents had travelled to a city bank to withdraw a large sum of money to pay workers and buy groceries.

The distraught young woman explained that her father has a business in the interior and would usually come to the city to transact business. Police sources have confirmed that one man has been arrested in connection with the robbery/murder.

Murder spike

Meanwhile, for the past nine days there have been several murders across the country. On August 9, the body of Jennifer Mendonca, 57 years old, was discovered in her Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home at about 22:00h.

Marvin Cumbermack, an employee of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) was also shot dead in Sophia after being robbed.

On August 11, 51-year-old Rudolph Persaud was also fatally shot while an acquaintance was shot by another man while imbibing at Northern Hogg Island, Essequibo River.

The body had several marks of violence, including what appeared to be a hit to the head. The discovery was made by his uncle, Davis Ramdial. According to the 52-year-old Ramdial, he had been in search of Gobin since Friday morning. “Ah look everywhere I know he does drink.”

Earlier this month, the Police had reported that there has been an eight per cent drop in serious crimes for the first seven months of the year.

“Of the 80 murders committed unto July 2014, three were of the execution type, 16 were committed during robberies, 21 were domestic related, 17 were of the disorderly type and 23 are so far undetermined,” the Police Force said in a statement.

Additionally, at the end of July, robbery under arms saw an increased by 16 per cent with 679 reports compared to 585 for the same period in 2013.

The Police statement said “the statistics indicate an increase of 27 per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms and a two per cent decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used.