Teen beheaded by cousin at Jackson Creek

A 17-year-old cane harvester had his head almost completely severed from his body on Wednesday, after he was chopped to the neck by his cousin during an argument at Jackson Creek, Berbice.

Stephon Bacchus, of Kortberaad, East Bank Berbice, was later pronounced dead on arrival at the Skeldon Hospital, where he was taken following the incident.

 His cousin, 17, who is also his neighbour, was arrested and remained in custody up to last evening.

 

Stephon Bacchus

The young men, who dropped out of the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School, had left their area to work as cane-harvesters with Rabindranauth ‘Mary’ Prasad at his Upper Corentyne sugar cultivation.

Prasad, when contacted, told Stabroek News that he learnt that the duo had left the field together around midday and went to their camp for lunch and Bacchus started provoking his friend.

They then went to take a rest in the same camp and after they got up, he said, the provocation started again.
He said too that Bacchus was sitting on the stairs putting on his boots when the suspect came from behind and “chopped his head off.”

The dispute between the cousins is believed to have had its genesis in the suspect allegedly telling his younger cousin that he was lazy, as he was not assisting with the work in the kitchen.

As a result, Bacchus is alleged to have dealt his cousin several slaps, before retiring for an after lunch siesta. Later, Bacchus is said to have taunted his cousin, who was unresponsive until the fatal attack.

According to Prasad, the dead boy’s cousin is claiming that he did not mean to sever his head. “He said he was going to broadside him with the cutlass and when he stretched to reach him the cutlass turn from the side,” he said.

He added that he was shocked to learn of the incident because the cousins got along really well.

An aunt, Ashanti McAllister, described the deceased as supportive to his mother, Annette Durant. She said the lad had sought employment to assist his mother in fulfilling the needs of his two school age sisters.

Prasad, who took ranks from the Springlands Police Station to the scene of the crime after he learned of it, said the police picked up the body and took it to the Skeldon Hospital mortuary. According to him, they had not seen the accused on their way to the scene as he had taken a short cut.

On their way back, however, they saw him walking along the road with what is believed to be the murder weapon and promptly arrested him. He is said to have been disoriented at the time.