Suriname hands over suspect in NA fireman’s murder

The suspect in the murder of New Amsterdam fireman Delon Colins, who was recently nabbed in Suriname, was yesterday handed over to the Guyana Police Force, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said.

Persaud told Stabroek News that investigations are still in progress and as a result the man has not yet been charged.

Delon Colins

Collins, of Vryman’s Erven, suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Hospital after a robbery on Christmas Eve, last year.

He had been confronted by three gunmen in front of a home at Alness, Corentyne, Berbice around 11:30 pm.

According to reports, Collins and Nadine Crawford, along with Crawford’s three children, were said to have been returning home from shopping at Rose Hall when the robbery occurred. The children exited the vehicle they were all travelling in and went to open the gate when they were confronted by a man. It was reported that the children began screaming and their mother came out to investigate when she was attacked by the man, who hit her before stripping off her jewellery. The woman was later forced into the garage where more jewellery and cash was demanded.

Relatives related that the children were sent upstairs and returned with a sum of $17,000. However, police in a press release indicated that the perpetrators carted off jewellery in addition to $62,000 in cash.

Collins, who was still seated in the vehicle, became aware of what was happening and proceeded to confront the bandit, who was at this time joined by others.

The bandit allegedly fired a single shot and Collins collapsed, after which the perpetrators made their escape.