Two more suspects in custody over dogfighting murder

Two more men suspected to be involved in Sunday’s stabbing to death of Adrian Richmond at a dogfighting event yesterday turned themselves in to police in the company of a lawyer.

The other suspect who was detained earlier this week remains in police custody and according to senior police officials a file on the matter is expected to be sent today to the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice not only in relation to the killing but also in relation to the institution of charges against the Industry dogfighting promoter and her husband.
The woman had been arrested shortly after the man was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Hospital. Her husband was arrested the following day.

Adrian Richmond
Adrian Richmond

Contacted yesterday, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said that advice would have to be sought in the matter. He said too that the woman was released while her husband remains in custody.

A police source who is familiar with the case told Stabroek News that “it seems like we have got all of them”. The source said that the couple will have to face charges of cruelty to animals for holding the illegal event at their home.

This is not the first time that the woman has found herself in hot water. Sometime back she was charged with cruelty to animals after police carried out surveillance at the home based on information received and caught her holding a dogfighting event. On that occasion she was pointed out as the person holding the event and as a result charges were laid.

After being charged the activity stopped at the Industry residence but was reportedly moved to Kitty. Police received information about this but were unable to find the location. It was subsequently moved back to Industry unknowing to the police.

Meanwhile, one of Richmond’s relatives told Stabroek News that a post-mortem examination conducted at the Georgetown Hospital yesterday revealed that he was stabbed 19 times.

In a press release, police said the murder of Richmond, 31, of Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara, which occurred at about 6.30 pm at Industry Front Access Road, East Coast Demerara, was under investigation.

Investigators have so far found that Richmond was involved in an argument with three men over a dogfight, during which he was reportedly stabbed with an ice-pick. Richmond, the police said, was taken to the Georgetown Hospital, where he later succumbed.

Based on what this newspaper had been told Richmond and his brother visited the event as spectators when an argument erupted after persons lost a bet. Relatives said that they were not part of the betting.