-bad blood blame for savage attack

A North Sophia man died after he was savagely stabbed to the neck and stoned by another man in the area late Sunday night.

Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas, 38, also known as Andrew Garraway called “Payee” or “Lumber man,” of North Sophia, Georgetown was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital shortly before 11pm Sunday and died while receiving medical attention. Thomas had been sitting outside a North Sophia shop, located opposite the St. Stanislaus College Farm, watching television when his attacker confronted him at about 9.30pm. Thomas’ attacker stabbed him to the neck after a short verbal confrontation between the two.

The deceased’s brother-in-law told Stabroek News yesterday afternoon that Thomas and his attacker had a “misunderstanding” about a week before the incident. Thomas’ attacker, his brother-in-law alleged, had stolen some items and blamed it on the dead man.

“The perpetrator,” the man explained, “thief some things from a Indian man place and he bring de man and say is Payee thief it but Payee de lucky cause it had some people who know where he been when de things loss and they vouch that he ain’t been no where and thief nothing,” he explained.

Thomas’ brother-in-law believes that his attacker was upset because the man did not get in trouble for the alleged petty crime. This incident, he said, brewed “bad blood” between the men. Thomas knew his attacker well and the men lived close to each other. “I know is vex he de vex cause Payee ain’t get reprimanded or nothing for de false accusations so he been all out to get he,” the man said.

Thomas’ relatives learnt of the incident more than 30 minutes after it had occurred. They told this newspaper that they’d learnt from eyewitnesses that Thomas’ attacker remained at the location for approximately 30 minutes after he’d wounded the man. The attacker threatened anyone who tried to render assistance to the wounded man and residents, relatives said they’d learnt, were unable to do anything.

However, Thomas’ brother-in-law also told this newspaper that police did not respond in a “speedy manner.” Despite being called about the matter, the man said, police only visited the scene after Thomas was pronounced dead at the city hospital. “Police don’t like come in this area,” Thomas’ brother-in-law said. “Is Kitty Police Station does got to look after things that happen in this area and like dem does never want to come here.”
Police were yet to issue a statement on the incident up to late last night. However, Stabroek News learnt from relatives of the deceased and police sources that Thomas’ attacker is yet to be arrested.

“He just freak out…”

An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, yesterday reported that there “was no big argument or scuffle” between Thomas and his attacker that night.
“Payee de sitting down watching tv and this man come walking in by de shop and block de shop door and de shop lady ask he to move,” the eyewitness recalled, “lil after that Payee get up and just ask this man to move from in front de door and this man tek off…is like he de jus’ lookin’ fuh ah story with Payee.”

Thomas’ attacker began verbally abusing him and “lil after pull out a small knife and stab he,” the eyewitness related. The man plunged the knife into Thomas’ neck then “ripped it across he throat.” Thomas was then chased around the shop while clutching his heavily bleeding wound.

“Payee de trying to run away but this man keep blocking he…he finally get away and run over to de dairy farm and brace up ‘pun de fence and is then de man start pick up some big big brick and pelting he.”

By the time Thomas made it to the fence of the St. Stanislaus College Farm he had already lost a lot of blood, the eyewitness reported. Thomas remained at the fence but after he was hit by a couple of stones he somehow made his way over the fence and into the farm compound.

“He couldn’t tek de pain no mo’ and he de so desperate to get away he jump over de fence and you know although Payee jump over the fence that man de still pelting he and he de cursing saying how Payee ain’t getting to go no hospital and that how he going to dead right deh,” the eyewitness reported.

In a desperate bid to avoid more pain Thomas, according to the eyewitness, crawled between some bushes where he was discovered almost an hour after being wounded. Several persons, the eyewitness said, made attempts to help the injured man but he threatened them with the knife as well.

“He freak out…if you see this man eyes how it get big big when he de running Payee to stab he again,” the eyewitness related, “I feel is crazy he go crazy right then and if anyone de try to stop he then they woulda get they dead to.”

When Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday afternoon residents were reluctant to speak about the incident. They reported that Thomas’ attacker only fled the scene when he noticed the man’s relatives approaching the scene.

Meanwhile, Thomas’ brother-in-law said that the man was “barely alive” when they found him among the bushes Sunday night. Blood, the man said, stained Thomas’ upper body and his breathing “was very shallow.” The man, according to a press release from the public hospital, arrived at the medical institution at 10.47pm Sunday and died shortly after while receiving medical attention.
Relatives could not say what Thomas did for a living. He leaves to mourn three children.