Suspect in Corentyne block maker’s murder expected to face charge today

An autopsy revealed yesterday that Number 69 Village, Corentyne block maker Mahendra Sooknanan, who was fatally stabbed over two dozen times on Sunday evening by a friend, died from shock and hemorrhaging due to multiple incised wounds.

The body of Sooknanan, also known as “KI,” 21, of Lot 136 Number 69 Village, Corentyne, was discovered on Monday around 6 am at the Number 69 Village, Corentyne middle walk dam, with over two dozen stab wounds.

The young block maker was reportedly battered with a fence picket and then stabbed with his own knife by the suspect, who has been identified as his friend, 19-year-old Orvin Soomai.

Stabroek News was told that the file regarding the matter was sent for legal advice yesterday and the suspect is expected to appear before a Corentyne court today to face the charge of murder.

It was previously reported that during the altercation, Soomai used a small fence picket to deal Sooknanan several lashes, after which he reportedly took away the murder weapon, a knife, which the deceased had in his possession, and used it to inflict over 25 stab wounds.

The suspect had confessed to investigators that after hours of drinking, an argument ensued between the two, which led to a physical altercation. Sources close to the investigation had said that the suspect claimed that the deceased claimed to have a relationship with his (the suspect’s) wife, which made him angry.