Good Fortuin murderer still on the loose

More than a month after Kenneth Allen was stabbed to death during an ill-fated rescue at Goed Fortuin, police are yet to arrest his killer.

Allen, 27, of Goed Fortuin Squatting Area, West Bank Demerara, died from a stab wound that penetrated his lung and heart, according to the post-mortem report. He also sustained several other stab wounds during the October 15 incident.

His aunt, Cheryl Josiah, who is also the secretary for the community policing group, told Stabroek News yesterday that she is in regular contact with the police but so far they have been unsuccessful in arresting her nephew’s killer. “I feel that the police are not working fast enough,” she declared, stating that she had been told that the killer was sometimes at his grandmother’s home in the community. Josiah said the police told her that they could not find the assailant even though they had made several night raids at his home. “From what I hear, they police don’t know who they looking for,” she added.

She said that from information garnered, the man visits his grandmother in the community and also goes to the home of the mother of his child at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara and he also lives at Mocha, East Bank Demerara. She said when this information was communicated to the police, she was told that they could not go and search “just like that” and would need a direct lot number. She said that there was nothing she could do further as she does not see the killer but she hopes that he can be found. “We are left to save that situation until such time that the police can pick him up,” the saddened woman said.

Allen, a father of two and a mason/carpenter, sustained several stab wounds while attempting to stop a group of men from assaulting and robbing another man in the area. Allen intervened in the dispute and the attacker turned on him. Josiah had told this newspaper that she observed the events as the suspect, who also lived in the village and was well known for troublesome ways, argued with her nephew. She heard Allen tell the man that he was “taking advantage because he was big and strong” and the suspect asking him how he got involved.

The two began fighting and Allen was stabbed several times. He collapsed and was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival while the attacker ran away.