An Ituni chainsaw operator was yesterday released on $300,000 bail after he was charged with killing a man, whom he had allegedly beaten with a picket after a dispute.
Bennedict John, 49, of Ituni, Upper Demerara River, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, where he was faced with a charge of manslaughter.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was granted bail, with the condition that he report to the Ituni Police Station every Monday and Friday until the conclusion of his trial.
The proceedings were adjourned until August 26th, 2021.
Fredrick De Souza, a 56-year-old labourer of BQ Range House, Kaburi Street, Ituni Village, was discovered in his yard in an unconscious state bearing wounds to his head, abdomen and feet on June 29. He succumbed the following day at the Linden Hospital Complex.
The police had said John was observed to have a wound above his right eye. When questioned as to the origins of his injury, the man said De Souza had hit him with a picket after an argument.
De Souza had told him not to enter his (De Souza’s) yard, which John had done. Upon being hit, the man took away the picket from De Souza and beat him with it.
John was escorted to the Ituni Health Care Centre where he received treatment for his injuries before being taken into custody.
