Mahaica farmer chopped to death

A Mahaica farmer was fatally chopped yesterday afternoon near his farm by another man who had hurled insults at him about his wife.

The suspect was later on the run for almost two hours before he was apprehended by the police.

Dead is Balkissoon, 52, of Lot 107 Helena Number Two, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Robby Balkissoon told Stabroek News that his father earlier yesterday had an argument with a suspected drug abuser, who is known in the area as “Tailor man.” The argument was over the suspect hurling insults at Balkissoon about his wife.

Balkissoon
Balkissoon

Robby said at approximately 1pm, he and his father took a break for lunch. He said shortly after, ‘Tailor man’ walked up to his father. “He just tell me father he gon kill he,” said Robby, adding “and he chop he on he left side neck” with a cutlass before fleeing the scene.

The grieving son said after he saw the accused fired the chop, he ran to his father’s rescue, only to be threatened with the same fate.

However, Robby said ‘Tailor man,’ who was at that point still armed with the cutlass he used to inflict the fatal wound as well as Balkissoon’s cutlass, told him that he was not afraid then ran away.

Balkisson died in the arms of his son, since the only other person around when the incident occurred had to rush for help, which did not arrive on time. His body was later picked up by the Lyken Funeral Home.

“He threatened to kill Balkissoon and he kill he right there,” shouted the devastated wife of Balkissoon, Vidya Balkissoon, as she was being consoled by a relative in the Mahaica Police Station compound.

She further stated that her husband did not make it since he lost too much blood. “His whole jersey was soaked red,” she said.

Robby late yesterday afternoon gave police investigators a statement about what he witnessed.

Balkisson is survived by his wife and two sons.