Relatives concerned at lack of progress into Festival City murder probe

Relatives of Marcel Neptune who died after he was chopped on the neck last October in the Festival City area are dissatisfied with the lack of progress in the investigation into his murder.

They claim that the alleged murderer is constantly seen walking around and law enforcement officers have failed to arrest him although they were informed of the man’s whereabouts.

Two of the dead man’s sisters said they visited the officer-in-charge of the East La Penitence Police Station and were told that policemen never found the suspect though they have gone to the area where he was seen.

Marlyn Neptune told Stabroek News yesterday that she visited the Brickdam Police Station after nothing was being done in the case and spoke to a senior rank. She said a call was made to the East La Penitence Police Station and she was instructed to go there, since that station was dealing with the matter. She said she was told that officers there knew who the person was.According to Marlyn, when she later visited the said station to report a matter, a policeman recognized her and asked her about her brother’s funeral. She said that it was then that a statement was taken from her. “… If he didn’t see me there what would have happened?” she questioned.

She said she was never contacted again so yesterday she called the Brickdam Police Station and was told to take the person who told her about the suspect’s whereabouts to the station.

“I believe that a bulletin should have been put out for him since that was cold-blooded murder… Several persons told me where this man is.

He walks the streets and plays football.”

Since Marcel’s death she said, the family has not been doing well. She said both her parents are sick.

On October 5 last, Marcel Neptune, 40, of 3407 `Z’ Stevedore Housing Scheme collapsed and died at the corner of Blue Mountain Road and Nutmeg Street, Festival City in front of the Busta Soft Drink depot seconds after he was chopped on the nape.

Reports are the dead man, who once smoked drugs, had just cleaned a yard and placed his bag and cutlass at the corner of the road. Upon his return his cutlass was missing and he went to three men standing nearby to inquire about it.

An argument developed and Marcel cursed one of the men, who was loading a truck, about his mother.

The man who Marcel cursed reportedly removed the cutlass, which was hidden in the truck, and chopped him on the neck.