Murdered school guard was state witness

-cops probing link to killing

Police are pursuing a line of investigation that security guard Kenneth Kanhai may have been shot dead because he was witness to a murder in which several persons have been committed to stand trial in the High Court.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that five persons, including a woman, remained in custody.

Asked what could have been the motive for Kanhai’s murder, he said one line of inquiry being pursued was that he may have turned state witness in a 2012 murder, he had been previously accused of.

Persaud was unable to provide details on the case but said that

Kenneth Kanhai
Kenneth Kanhai

several persons were committed to stand trial.

Meanwhile, when Stabroek News spoke to Kanhai’s widow, Jagwantie Jidayal, she said her husband’s death came as a total shock to her.

She was not at home at the time and was yesterday still trying to absorb the reality of what had occurred.

However, she confirmed to this publication that her husband was a witness in case before the High Court in Berbice. It was stated that her husband had been expected to testify on behalf of the state next week Wednesday

Asked if her husband ever reported any threats, she said no, explaining that Kanhai was not a conversational person and she was the one most likely to start a conversation.

The police had said in a press release that the body of Kanhai, 56, of Gangaram Settlement, East Canje, Berbice, was found at about 7:10am on Thursday with suspected gunshot injuries. The release said the body was found in the Canefield Nursery School, where Kanhai was on duty.

Stabroek News was told that it was teachers who made the gruesome discovery.

They had found Kanhai, who had been working at the school for several years, sprawled on a table facing downwards with a suspected gunshot wound to the forehead. Closer inspection revealed that he was also shot in the back.

The newspaper was told that there was no indication that he was the victim of a robbery gone badly as none of his personal possessions or items from the school were found to be missing.

Droplets of blood marked a trail from the back door to the front door of the school where the body was found suggesting that he had been shot at least once somewhere at the back and then either moved himself or was taken to the front where he was found. Two spent shells were recovered by police officers near a drain behind the school building.

Meanwhile, a resident who spoke to Stabroek News under the condition of anonymity said that between the hours of 2 am and 3 am, four sounds like gunshots were heard. The resident explained that the first two shots were followed by a scream. The resident said that not long after another two shots were heard then dogs began barking loudly. After a while, it was silent again.

A police source said they are hoping for a break in the case as thorough investigations are being carried out.