Albouystown man dies in ‘motorbike accident’

-family suspects foul play

Relatives of an Albouystown teen who died reportedly following an accident at Middle Road, La Penitence on Sunday night, are questioning the circumstances under which he died.

Chavez Kellman
Chavez Kellman

According to a press release from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), Chavez Kellman, 18, of Lot 158 Curtis Street, Albouystown was taken to the institution around midnight on Sunday “following a motorcycle accident at Middle Road, La Penitence”. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Kellman’s mother, Nicola Hunte, told Stabroek News at her home yesterday that she viewed her son’s body earlier in the day yesterday and observed a hole in his forehead but no other marks about his body to suggest he was involved in an accident. She said she even visited the spot where the accident was reported to have occurred at Middle Road and observed only a skid mark close to a culvert where his body wad found. The woman said that she was told that her son had borrowed a friend’s motorcycle to go on an errand and it was while returning to his friend that he met his demise. She said his friends were the persons who discovered his motionless body at Middle Road.

Hunte recalled that Kellman, who is the second of her three children, left home around 7 pm on Sunday and went to meet his friends at Middle Road, a normal occurrence, according to her. She said she received a call some time after midnight on Sunday, informing her that her son had been involved in an accident. The woman went to the scene and was shocked when she saw her son’s lifeless body. He was then rushed to the hospital.

Hunte said she went to the Ruimveldt Police station yesterday to give a statement and she also informed officers there about her suspicions. The composed woman stated that she visited the public hospital mortuary for a second time yesterday afternoon accompanied by the police to examine her son’s body but the mortuary was already closed when she got there. She said that the police will be returning to the mortuary today to have a second look at her son’s remains.

When asked whether her son had any grievances with anyone, she said that about two weeks ago he had a misunderstanding with another man in the area but noted that she had visited the individual recently to “quiet the matter down.” She said she did not know whether her son had any other disagreements with anyone else prior to his death.

Kellman, a mason, was described by relatives as a thin–featured individual who “never touched a fly.” One female relative recounted that “he was not a bad man as most people would associate Albouystown people,” but rather a “birds man,” adding that he had numerous friends.

His grandmother, who is visually impaired, wailed uncontrollably while Stabroek News visited the family’s home yesterday. She recounted her close relationship with her grandson.

She said only last Saturday he was playing a popular song and she kept asking him to replay the song since she liked it. “One more night, one more night, how ah like that song and  he been playing it for me all the time Saturday, not knowing Saturday night would be the last ah seeing he,” the distraught woman explained. Numerous family members and friends gathered at Kellman’s home yesterday to give support to his family members.

Kellman leaves to mourn his mother and two sisters.

Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding his demise continue.