As the investigation into the murders of University of Guyana (UG) student Azrudeen Hussain and poultry vendor Desmond Singh on New Year’s Day continues, the police are pursuing a third suspect.
This is according to a source close to the investigations who told Stabroek News that investigators were up to last evening trying to locate the suspect. Two other men who were picked up in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Monday morning remain in custody.
Hussain, 24, a cattle farmer and final-year pharmacy student at UG, who resided at Baiabu, Mahaica Creek and Singh, called “David” and “Fix Up”, 34, of Lot A-1 Orange Walk, Bourda, died on Sunday evening after they were shot shortly after leaving a cockfighting match at Humphrey’s Street, Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Singh, who was shot about 15 times about his body died on the spot, while Hussain who was shot once in his neck succumbed shortly after he was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the attack. However, it is suspected that it was a `hit’ since no valuables were taken from the dead men. Singh is believed to have been the target.
The Guyana Police Force, in a press release, had said that Singh and Hussain were talking with each other when two gunmen, whose faces were concealed with kerchiefs, approached them and opened fire.
Stabroek News understands that the dead men, who were friends, had just left a venue located close to the Friendship Secondary School where the cockfight was held.
Post-mortem examinations performed yesterday confirmed that Singh died as a result of multiple gunshot injuries. Hussain’s cause of death was given as a single gunshot wound he sustained to his neck. Their remains were yesterday handed over to their families for burial.
Singh’s sister, who asked not to be named, had recalled last seeing him around 3 pm when he left home to attend the cockfighting, which, according to her, was customary.
Hussain’s father, Azad Hussain had said that from all indications the incident appeared to be a hit on Singh during which a bullet accidentally struck Azrudeen.
The man said that based on what he was told, the fight had just finished and Azrudeen was about to leave for home when Singh stopped him and they started a discussion. “It got to be a hit on the other guy…because it had five other persons in Azrudeen vehicle including his brother and nephew when the shooting happen and nobody ain’t do them nothing,” Azad said. Teenager sentenced to two years for robbery
A two-year sentence was yesterday handed down to a teenaged boy after he admitted to stealing $41,000 in cash and other items.
Peter Lowe, 17, was brought before Magistrate Annette Singh and read a charge which stated that on January 2, at Georgetown, in company of another, he robbed Egbert Thomas of a $6000 phone and $35,000 in cash.
Lowe of Tiger Bay, pleaded guilty, with an explanation to the crime.
According to the facts presented by the prosecution, the court heard that Thomas, a guard, was walking south along Lombard Street, when he was confronted by the defendant and another. The court heard that it was the second person who choked the complainant, leading to the defendant removing the articles mentioned in the charge, from Thomas’ pocket. Thomas raised an alarm and the police responded and apprehended Lowe.
When granted the opportunity to explain his side of the story, Lowe told the court that he was towing a friend when the said friend jumped off the bicycle. He stated that when he turned around, he saw the friend cuff the complainant and choke him. According to Lowe, he was ordered by the friend to take the money from Thomas’ pocket, and then they rode away.
Prior to sentencing the defendant, the Magistrate told him that he had gone into the complainant’s pocket and taken out the money, like he had placed it there at 17 years-old. “It is people like you,” she added, “that would give certain areas a bad name, and cause people like me not to walk around these areas”.
The teen, a labourer, was then sentenced to two years imprisonment.
