A popular local actor was found dead yesterday morning with his throat slit at the Liliendaal seawall — hours before his latest production was set to open at the National Cultural Centre.
Joel Fraser
At the time he was found, Joel Fraser, 39, of Lot 27 Laing Avenue, was wearing only his underpants and a t-shirt. Valuables, which he had had in his possession, including a laptop computer and production material for the premiere of the Mori J’von Comedy Jam, were missing.
Investigators were yesterday trying to ascertain the motive behind the killing, which sent shockwaves through the theatrical community that Fraser had been a member of for many years.
In a terse statement on the case, police said last evening that they were investigating.
According to reports reaching Stabroek News, Fraser was last seen in the vicinity of Bourda Market around midnight. Around 6 am, joggers passing the Liliendaal area found him lying on the seawall in a pool of blood. This newspaper was told that his throat was slashed so badly that his windpipe was protruding. His face had wounds consistent with it being hit with a blunt object and the perpetrator(s) had also used a knife to inflict other injuries.
Fraser was clad in a hat, t-shirt and his underpants. There was a pair of slippers on his feet. A bag containing another pair of footwear and his cellular phone was lying nearby.
Police sources said the man’s girlfriend was questioned yesterday morning and after providing the police at the Sparendaam Police Station with a statement she was released.
Up to press time last evening, no suspects were identified.
At the man’s home, neighbours gathered to offer words of comfort to his mother, Florizel Fraser. The woman, who was calm, said that God has given her the strength to deal with her son’s gruesome and untimely death. Florizel recalled that a group of Fraser’s friends from Bourda Market, where he also operated a greens stall, went to her and broke the news.
She said she was shocked and speechless, but went to the area behind the Ocean View International Hotel to view the body.
The grieving woman said that though her son’s face was badly damaged by what appeared to be knife wounds, she recognized him.
She indicated that he was hardly at home, as he spent most of his time with his girlfriend. However, he visited her several days ago and was in a very happy mood over the upcoming comedy jam. “He come hey to get up thing fuh de show. He stay a few minutes and then he left. Ah didn’t even get to hug or kiss he before he lef,” the woman told this newspaper.
Asked if he had any problems with anyone, she said Fraser was never a person to deliver bad news to her. She was baffled over what could have led to his death.
Fraser also leaves to mourn three siblings. Persons he grew up with said he was a loving and respectful person who was always jovial.
Fraser was the production assistant and stage manager of the Mori J’von Comedy Jam and had attended the final rehearsal on Tuesday night. The show opened last evening and will be held again tonight as scheduled.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the show Olive Morrison told Stabroek News yesterday that she last saw Fraser when she dropped him off at Orange Walk, Bourda around 11.30 pm. At the time, she said, he was in high spirits and gave no indication that anything was bothering him.
Morrison, who was shocked to receive the tragic news yesterday, said he had played an integral part in the production of the comedy jam, the brainchild of her and her husband Ron Morrison.
Fraser was also working with writer/producer Maria Benschop on an upcoming television sitcom. Benschop, who also expressed shock yesterday recalled that he had been production manager and an actor in her recent show, Nothing to Laugh About – a collection of satirical sketches.
Oh such a shame! Why are humans so cruel to each other? The person that committed this crime is a butcher. No- I take that back! A butcher is an honorable profession- he is a monster.
This is so sad. Some will speculate, but we may never know the truth behind some of these killings. Hope the GPF get advanced training to deal with such cases more effectively.
bis …. the murderer cannot be a monster as monster don’t kill…he got to be a slughterer ….
Humans are in the form as demons!!!
“wolves in sheep clothings”
That was what my poem was about, which is now a reality for you to comprehend and understand Theology
“A tribute to humanity”
Bis
I thought the PPP was responsible for this. How come you did not reach that conclusion. You have disappointed me
thats all you can do wid the ppp is hope, the problem is dude that we have been hoping for 17 years and nothing is happening.
The PPP will roll out a new fire engine or show a new dragline dem buy but we all know that is just propaganda nothing new is really changing on the ground.
Big country like Guyana and dem a buy 1 lazy dragline fuh dig trench, what happen when dat bruk dung?
Things are really getting better. This story is a true sign of the progress Guyana is making in keeping its citizens secure. I would like to thank the P.P.P. government for the superb job they are doing.
wow,,, what a sad way to go.from what i read here this sounds like grude/hatred/spite..a young talented and hard working man was crucified with no mercy.and left to the elements…my prayers goes out to this family and may his soul R.I.P.
Can the folice solve this one? The intention was clear. Butcher this man. Can the police force as it is constituted solve any crime?
This is quite gruesome indeed!!! To your question, the answer is a resounding NO. The police does not have the skills set to solve this.
I can hel them compare it to other murders of a simillar nature. Their were many murders of this type before in Guyana.
Start with his cell phone, then his passport and travel. The method of approch is to start from the outside in or from the circumference to the core sticking a flag olayer as youmake your way in. DNA have to be present in this case of body fluids transfer. Check the whole head and arms their had to be a struggle.
The University of Guyana needs a Crime Technology Department. This is no joke.
He was a classmate, a friend and a good citizen. It’s a shame that his life ended so abruptly with yet so much to share. My sympathy to family and friends.
we all really should join hands and thank the PPP government for doing such a wonderful job protecting the people of Guyana and solving all the “mystery crimes” occuring in guyana.
Thank you uncle rohee
My deepest sympathy to his mother, girlfriend, other relatives and friends.
A while ago, I was driving down to Georgetown from the East Coast. It must have been between midnight and 2am. A young man, dressed in a track suit, flagged me down somewhere in the vicinity of Ocean View. I was a bit hesitant to stop but eventually did.
This young man chatted with me non-stop. He was heading to Bourda Market where he said he operated a stall. Coincidentally, that was my destination too.
Before he existed my car, he shook my hands and said that I should know him from being on TV and that he is the “Tiger”.
Could anyone say if he is the same person?
Yes he is, Tiger is a role he played in a play about 2 years back. Can’t remember the name right now.
Guyana has lost another of her talented child. When is this going to end? What can be done to prevent the horrible deeds?
My heartfelt sympathy to friends family and relatives.
Killing seems to be Guyana’s National Passtime!My condolences to the family of Joel Fraser.
THE KILLING FIELDS OF GUYANA. Who is going to control all the ghost.
This is my buddy,this realy hurt me,,me and him went to St angelas school in thomas Street in the eighty he was the only kid for his mom,single parent,,,,this dude never was into foul biz: in school we call him (red-man)he was a good track and feild runner,,i realy hope they find these suckers(scum-bags) gotto tell my other friends,
How sad, how cruel! His poor mother! I weep for the loss of your friend.
The way this dude body was found in is under pants and slippers says alot,either he was taken there by force(gun-point) or he and somebody fall out (girlfriend),and he leave the house as is,, grab stuff and go,,,, guyana guyana guyana, there is no love there for humanity,this must change,,may god save his soul
Iron monkey…he was also a schoolmate of mine – at St. Angela’s and St. Stanislaus. Maybe I know you. Send me an email at dephantom29@yahoo.com.
It’s a tragedy what happened to Smokin Joe. One hears about all these murders but when it happens to someone you actually know it takes on a whole new level of horribleness.
Eh Eh IRON MONKEY wo a learn canadian slany wa mo yo know.
My sympathy to the family.
I lost my friend Dolly the same way.My heartfelt sympathy to friends and family.
My deepest sympathy to the family & frinds .can any one say where in our country, our people are save from UNTIMLY deads guest nowhere in guyana no one no whos next will be killed robbed , dice by some speed ace or drunken driver on our road ways for this week so far we have over 15 deads for some reason or the other . CASE pon case go unsloved under the current home affairs Minister andn’t the commissior of police but yet still we have them there paying to do what to see many more of our ppl get kill an no answer shame shame on u ppl.
My deepest sympathy to this guy’S mother other relatives and friends. gtson2000 says rightly so how many other things are happening and nothing is being solved but lok at it this way also gtson look how many people see so many things happen and just shrug their shoulders and say buddy me na ga no businnes wit dat and say nothing to the police. As bad as they are they need help too to solve crimes.
correction on my comments , (Friends?)