Terrence Hodge, called “Mice Man,” was yesterday charged over the fatal stabbing of Adrian Richmond, during an illegal dogfighting event at Industry, East Coast Demerara on Sunday.
According to police officials, Hodge, of Drysdale Street, Charlestown, appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and was remanded to prison until June 21.
He was not required to plead to the capital charge of murder.
Hodge and two other suspects in the murder along with the husband of the woman responsible for promoting the event were detained by police. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that Hodge was charged, while the other three persons were released on bail.
According to another senior police official, Hodge was charged based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP, after reviewing the file yesterday morning, this newspaper was told, had advised that only Hodge should be charged.
Police had said that Richmond, 31, of Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara, was involved in an argument with three men over a dogfight, during which he was stabbed with an ice-pick. Richmond was taken to the Georgetown Hospital, where he later succumbed.
Based on what this newspaper had been told, Richmond and his brother had visited the event as spectators and while they were there, an argument erupted after persons lost a bet. Relatives had said that they were not part of the betting. A post-mortem examination revealed that Richmond had been stabbed 19 times.
Hours after the murder, the woman said to be the promoter of the dogfighting event was detained by police. Persaud had told this newspaper that the woman had been charged with cruelty to animals some time back after a similar event was held at her Industry home. After she was charged, the dogfights ceased and police later learned that they were moved to an unknown location in Kitty. At some point they were moved back to Industry.
