The Guyana Prison Service this evening said that a murder accused was found hanging in the New Amsterdam Prison this afternoon.
It identified the dead man as Deodat Sookhoo and said that investigations are underway.
The statement by the prison authorities follows:
“The Prison Administration regrettably announces the death of committed inmate Deodat Sookhoo who was found hanging in his cell in an apparent suicide in the Main Prison Block at the New Amsterdam Prison at approximately 15:45 hours today. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the prisoner, who is usually located in the Remanded Dining Hall during the day was taken from the said dining hall and locked alone in his cell on the No. # 3 landing of the main Prison Block at approximately 15:15h. When the rank responsible for lock -down duties returned to the cell with Sookhoo’s two other cell mates, the lifeless body was found hanging with a bedsheet from the ventilation above his cell door. The police were immediately informed of this incident and an investigation commenced.
“Prisoner Sookhoo was admitted to prison in 2007-11-01 charged for the offence, ‘Murder ‘. He was committed to stand trial on 2010-12-13. He is forty one (41) years old and hailed from Bloomfield, Village Corentyne.
“The Prison administration extends sympathy to the family of the deceased and awaits the conclusion of the police investigations. “
