‘Uncle Roy’ charged with murder of GuySuCo worker

A teenager was remanded to prison yesterday after he appeared in the Whim Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of Ravindranauth Tirkha called ‘Engine,’ 52, of Lot 498 Block 16 Line Path, Corentyne.

Vishal Michael Edwards called “Uncle Roy”, 19, of Number 77 Village Housing Scheme and of Lot 450, Church Street Number 78 Village, Corriverton, Berbice was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which was read to him by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh.

It is alleged that between July 14 and 15 the youth murdered Tirkha at Number 78 Village Corriverton.

Edwards will make his second appearance in the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on August 8. He was unrepresented.

Ravindranauth Tirkha
Ravindranauth Tirkha
Vishal Edwards
Vishal Edwards

According to reports, during interrogation by investigators, the teen confessed to killing the Guyana Sugar Corporation employee and stealing his personal items. Another individual was also taken into custody but was released after there was lack of evidence. Edwards had indicated that he took a piece of cloth and strangled Tirkha.

The man was found dead behind a popular backtrack boating service at Springlands, Corentyne sometime around 5:30 am on July 15 with blood was oozing out of his nostrils and he was lying face down. The man was also robbed of personal items. An autopsy performed yesterday at the Skeldon hospital mortuary revealed that he was strangled.

Tirkha’s wife Radica called “Mala” had said that she last spoke to her husband around 6.30 pm on July 14 and he had informed her that he would be home at around 7 pm. After she noticed that 7 pm had passed, she called his phone but only got his voicemail.