Cornelia Ida taxi driver beaten to death

A Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara taxi-driver died – reportedly of a broken neck – after being beaten by another man during a scuffle last evening.

Dead is

Dhanpaul Ramharakh
Dhanpaul Ramharakh

called ‘Papalo’, 46, of Cornelia Ida. His attacker is in police custody after turning himself in at the Leonora Police Station last night. The incident occurred at Sea View, Anna Catherina where Ramharakh had responded to a call from a friend who told him that her neighbour was arguing with her.

“He went in front of the neighbour yard and start cursing and `busing’ and the neighbour allegedly came out and dealt him two slaps around his face and he fell down. After he fell down the neighbour then kicked him and he remained motionless on the ground,” police ‘D’ Division Commander, Balram Persaud told Stabroek News.

Grieving relatives gathered at Ramharakh’s mother, Dorothy, home today. His nephew, Praem Rambharak told Stabroek News that he received a call around 8:15 last night from a friend who said that his uncle was involved in an issue and was badly injured. About 10 minutes later, a relative called from the Leonora Diagnostic Centre and said that Ramharakh had died, he said. He said that he and other relatives rushed to the hospital and it was observed that the man’s neck appeared to have been broken.

Rambharak said that his uncle had gone to the woman’s home after she called him to complain that her neighbour was arguing with her over money she owed to him. Rambharak said that when his uncle reached the area, the attacker, who is a money-changer, jumped over his fence onto the road and they scuffled. He said that the suspect slapped his uncle who fell. As he was getting up, the assailant kicked him at the neck, just beneath his jaw.

Ramharakh did not get up again. Ramhbarak said that they were told that the suspect, his wife and another neighbour picked up the motionless man, put him in his car, and drove him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A few minutes later, he said, the suspect’s brother called him (the suspect) and told him to turn himself in to the police and he did so at the Leonora Police Station. His wife was also taken into custody. According to Rambharak, they were told that the suspect was under the influence of alcohol.

He said that his uncle and his assailant had known each other for over 15 years since they had lived close-by. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be done.

Rambharak said that his uncle was hard-working and spent much of his time on the road. He noted that his uncle was awaiting a call from some clients who had booked him to take them to their homes from a wedding when he received the call from his friend. Ramharakh was attached to the King’s Den taxi service.

He is survived by his wife, Baby; two children; his mother and other relatives. Police investigations are continuing.