Police yesterday arrested the prime suspect in the murders of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal Daniel Fraser and his girlfriend, Shanicka Forde, and they said he confessed to carrying out the crime because the soldier had sexually assaulted one of his relatives.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum last night confirmed that ranks, acting on information received, arrested the suspect around 2.30 pm yesterday.
He has been identified as 23-year-old Koabe Grant, a carpenter, of Sophia.
Blanhum said another man, who was initially arrested, was released after police were able to confirm his alibi on the night of the murders.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Grant was questioned about the murders and he reportedly told investigators that Fraser and two others allegedly raped one of his close relatives.
Since then, he said, Fraser was in the habit of “disrespecting and threatening” him.
Grant, this newspaper was told, related that on September 1 around 8.30pm, he left his mother’s Meadow Brook house and went to a relative’s house.
Later the same night, he visited a friend and on his way there, saw Fraser at a shop in ‘C’ Field, Sophia drinking. Fraser reportedly warned him that he must not “come around” at certain times.
As a result, Grant told the police that he returned to his mother’s house, where he picked up a firearm. He claimed that he found the weapon some time ago at the Blacka bridge in Sophia.
Police added that he later saw Fraser and some other persons approaching the bridge which leads to ‘C’ Field, Sophia. They were crossing the same bridge heading to his direction. As a result, Grant told the police that turned back and went west towards ‘B’ Field instead.
Shortly after, he said he saw Fraser and Forde on a motorcycle, while another man was on another motorcycle behind them.
Upon seeing him, Grant alleged that Fraser shouted “look he deh hay” and he (Grant) pull-ed out the gun and opened fire.
The suspect added that afterwards he dropped the gun and ran to ‘A’ Field, Sophia, where he took off his clothes and left it on backdam. He then proceeded to his mother’s house.
Stabroek News was informed that police probing the matter were able to confirm that the suspect’s relative did lodge a rape report on May 27, 2021. She alleged that she was raped by Grant and another member of the GDF in February, 2021.
Fraser and Forde, who was visiting from Barbados, were gunned down at ‘B’ Field, Sophia around 11.30 pm last week Wednesday.
Autopsies revealed that Fraser died as a result of a gunshot injury to his chest.
The police had previously said that Fraser and Forde were in a relationship for about two weeks. However, family members said they have been together for about a year.
It was initially suspected that the shooting was as a result of Forde going against an ex-partner’s wish and moving on from their relationship.
Forde resided in Barbados but was here on vacation for the past three months. She was staying at a friend’s place in South Sophia.
According to a police report, enquiries revealed that prior to the shooting, the couple were drinking at a shop at ‘C’ Field, Sophia. They then left for home on a motorcycle.
“As they were heading west along Last Street ‘B’ Field, Sophia, they were confronted by an unknown male who approached them from a northern direction on a bicycle and discharged six rounds at Fraser and Forde causing them to fall on the ground,” the police said.
The suspect then rode away in a western direction and made good his escape.
