Murdered Springlands remigrant was involved in land dispute

Godfrey Branch
Godfrey Branch

As police continue to investigate the murder of Godfrey Branch, the remigrant pensioner who was found dead with stab wounds about his body in his house at Springlands, Corentyne, on Friday, they are also examining his involvement in a land dispute with a fellow resident.

The police are investigating the theory that Branch, 73, of Lot 22 A Springlands Public Road, Corentyne, was murdered during the course of a robbery, and three persons remained in custody yesterday for further questioning.

However, a senior police source told Sunday Stabroek that investigators have also received information that the remigrant was involved in a land dispute with a resident of the area.

According to information gathered, Branch reportedly wanted to transfer the land into a relative’s name, which caused issues with another resident. The source noted that they are also exploring the possibility that the pensioner could have been targeted as a result of the dispute.

Meanwhile, according to persons in the area, Branch had complained previously of someone trespassing on his property.

Branch was discovered dead by his caretaker shortly after 9 am on Friday with two stab wounds to his abdomen, one to the region of his heart, one to the right side of his chest and one to the back of the head. His feet tied together at the ankles with a pair of trousers.  Also, his house was discovered ransacked and an undisclosed sum of cash was missing along with the DVR with surveillance footage.