Farm man chopped to death by neighbour

A Farm Village, East Bank Essequibo man went berserk late yesterday afternoon and brutally chopped his neighbour to death.

The dead man has been identified as 42-year-old Andrew Drakes, who was said to have been seated on a roadside bench with his young son when he was attacked.

The motive of the attack, which occurred a stone’s throw away from Drakes’ home at about 5.30 pm, was unclear.

Based on the information gathered by Sunday Stabroek, Drakes was sitting on a wooden bench with his son, who was visiting him at the time, when he was chopped with a cutlass to the back of the head. When he fell to the ground, his neighbour reportedly continued chopping him until he was motionless. The child, who witnessed the entire episode, was left drenched in blood.

Drakes was rushed to the nearest hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The neighbour is said to be in police custody.

Sunday Stabroek was unable to make contact with relatives.