Man stabbed to death in bar -childhood friend in custody

Kurtland KendallA 28-year-old man was stabbed to death late Tuesday night while in a popular bar on D’Urban Street, Lodge by a man he had an old grievance with.

Dead is Kurtland Kendall of 71 Hill Street, Lodge. His attacker was arrested at his home, located a short distance from the bar, by the police minutes after the incident.

It is unclear exactly what transpired between the two that night but persons close to the dead man believe that it had to do with a heated altercation they had sometime late last year. They, however, could not provide any information on what sparked that altercation. This newspaper understands that since that incident, the suspect would always throw remarks at Kendall.

Police in a press release said that they are investigating the murder of Kendall while in a bar on Pollydore Street, Lodge, around 10.25 pm on Tuesday.

At the man’s home yesterday, his nephew Kevin Hinckson, told Stabroek News that he was told that his uncle had gone into the bar to buy fish and chips and while there the suspect arrived and they had an argument.

He said that his uncle apparently told the man something and that caused him to get very angry. Hinckson said that the suspect left and came back with an ice-pick and a knife in his hands and stabbed his uncle in the back several times as he was about to collect his food.

He said that after committing the act, the man went back to his home and sat on the veranda. The police later went to the residence and apprehended him, he said.

Hinckson said that when he saw the body there were what looked like ice pick wounds on the chest.

He said that this incident came as a real shock to him since he had seen his uncle around 9 that night. He added that the bar was his uncle’s usual hangout spot.

Stabroek News was told that Kendall who was in charge of a block-making business near his home was a very jovial person who was liked by many. A man who said Kendall and the suspect grew up with him expressed his dismay over the incident.

He described the suspect as someone who liked to throw remarks whenever a conflict had been resolved.

Concern has also been raised over just how easily the suspect could have walked into the bar with weapons and stabbed somebody in full view of the public before calmly walking back to his home.

Residents said that they are saddened over the killing because the two men grew up together and had known each other very well.

Kendall leaves to mourn seven siblings and other relatives and friends.

Police are continuing their investigations.