Sophia man’s family afraid murder will become another cold case

 Kurt Duncan
Kurt Duncan

The family of Kurt Duncan, the Sophia man who was fatally shot by an ex-policeman two weeks ago during a scuffle at Seeta’s Bar, is fearful that his murder will become a cold case like that of his brother, who was murdered almost nine years ago.

Kurt’s brother, Marvin Andries, was allegedly beaten to death in Septem-ber, 2010, at Tamakay Landing, in Region Seven, after he allegedly attempted to steal raw gold.

The men’s mother, Jennifer Duncan, yesterday told Stabroek News that she is beginning to lose faith in the police as they are yet to apprehend his killer more than two weeks since the murder.

Marvin Andries

“I losing trust in the police. I just don’t know why these things happening to me? Why this man had to kill my son? Wah reason? Wah is the reason? Just suh yuh gon’ just see somebody and just tek they life from them? Yuh ain’t studying that he coulda be somebody else son? Some-body brother? Somebody fadah?” Jennifer questioned.

She noted that apart from the deaths of her sons, she is still seeking answers in relation to the death of her partner, Elvin Ceres, which occurred in June, 2016.

Charred remains, suspected to be those of Ceres, 43, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, were found following a fire at a house at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

Ceres went missing on the same day of the fire. He had been employed by the owner of the house for a number of years.

Elvin Ceres

The police were called in to probe his death since foul play was suspected.

DNA samples were also taken for testing to confirm whether the remains were indeed those of Ceres but to date there has been no word on the results.

Jennifer is therefore calling on the police to thoroughly investigate the matters so that can she get justice. “I just hoping that the police them do they job and get these people so that I could get some justice,” Jennifer said.

She noted that the deaths of Ceres and Andries are now cold cases and she hopes that Kurt’s murder will not go the same way.

“…Like I feel like I won’t get no justice because the son (Andries) that was killed in 2010 up to this day, they ain’t even mek no arrest, nobody neva tell me nothing concerning the story. So it just gon’ done just suh,” Jennifer noted.

Meanwhile, Kurt’s sister, Kanduce Duncan, said that the family has not been updated in relation to either of the matters and it is unclear whether the investigations are still open.

“We neva get no call or nothing from nobody. We neva get no follow up on the story, nothing. Since my brother (Andries) dead is like the story gone down the drain. Is like a cold case. It just gone that he was beaten and dah is it. Nobody was arrested, nothing, nothing,” Kanduce said.

Kanduce reiterated that the family’s biggest fear is that the investigation into Kurt’s murder will head in the same direction.

“Right now my mother is afraid that the same thing gon happen now. Because if he (suspect) well known to the police and still them ain’t get he. Is done two weeks and change and nobody ain’t get he,” she said.

Jennifer said she visited the Kitty Police Station on Tuesday morning to find out about the investigation and she was told that the investigation is ongoing and the suspect is being pursued. “They seh that how they still investigating, that they pursuing he (the suspect) because they know who they looking fah,” Jennifer said.

Relatives have many questions about Kurt’s murder and have made it clear that they won’t rest until justice is served.

“Yes we need justice… I does remember me brother (Kurt) every day and I does still ask the question that he wasn’t a bad person and why he had to meet he last time like dah. Wah is it? Everybody asking wah is it that he had to go to meh brother with such an anger, shoot he and then gun-butt he more than one time. Wah is it? I don’t know… I would really like to ask he the same question when I see he,” Kanduce said.

Kurt Duncan, called ‘Devon,’ 32, a popsicle vendor of Lot 192 North Sophia, was shot and killed around 2.07 am on July 29th at Seeta’s Bar, at Station Street, Kitty.

The father of six was shot once to his chest.

The Guyana Police Force subsequently issued a wanted bulletin for Keon David, 32, who is an ex-member of the force and also a resident of Sophia.

David, who was not a licensed firearm holder, is yet to be apprehended.

Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan, in a press statement, had said Duncan was shot after he intervened in a scuffle between a man and woman who were washing the floor of the premises.

“The victim (Duncan) who was present, intervened and reportedly assaulted the male cleaner,” the police had said.

The statement added that the suspect, who was seated nearby, allegedly whipped out a firearm and shot Duncan.

Duncan’s relatives had described him as a peaceful individual who did not get involved in trouble.

In a recent interview with Stabroek News, Roxanne Duncan, the widow of Kurt, had appeal-ed to the suspect’s family to encourage him to turn himself into the police so that justice can prevail.

“Right now, all I need is that if wherever he deh, if he could just show up he self and come out and do something because meh husband he wasn’t a bad boy, he wasn’t a person with problem. He was just an innocent person… I really want, even self he family, wherever them deh. I know them hearing, them listening, them seeing… if he have a mother, if he have father, if he have sister, if them could just turn or tell he turn in he self, encourage he fah do wah is right and turn in he self because he destroy a family,” Roxanne said.