A 31-year-old engineer was fatally stabbed yesterday morning following a confrontation with a coconut vendor.
Neil Rampersaud of Phulwarie Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was dealt the fatal stab at approximately 7.38 am in the vicinity of Zahora Street.
The alleged attacker, who has since been arrested, had been accused of inflicting wounds earlier that morning on Mohan Panchu also of Phulwarie Street resulting in him having to seek medical attention.
The suspect has been identified by the police as Stherlinga Gilkes, called `Coconut Man’ or Herbey, 40, a coconut vendor of Plaisance, ECD.
Having learnt of the attack on Panchu, Police said Rampersaud, an engineer working in the oil and gas sector offshore Guyana, confronted Gilkes, who is also known to him and ordered him to go to the Sparendaam Police Station. During the confrontation, the police said that Rampersaud dealt Gilkes two lashes about his body. The suspect, who was armed with a coconut blade, then allegedly dealt a stab to Rampersaud.
The wounded man then ran for help and was later escorted to the Woodlands Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.
Panchu, while recuperating at home yesterday, told this newspaper that the suspect had threatened him on Saturday night but he paid no attention to him. He stated that the suspect, who normally picks and sells coconuts in the area is known to the community and the family of the deceased.
“He don’t like me or my wife or the boy that died. Every time he does drink his rum he does want fight with them people. A time I had to tell he come out the yard since then he don’t like me… yesterday he was in the street in front here cussing up and last night (Saturday) around 11.30 he come around here and was cussing up and rocking down my gate… I tell he leh he don’t try nothing here but he continue cussing and tell me I gon see wa go happen at market today (Sunday),” Panchu said.
According to him, yesterday morning while he was on his way to the market at around 6.35 am, the suspect pounced on him and dealt him several stabs.
“While I was riding out he said `hey’ and gimme a jook to my upper chest. I pull back but then he give me two more jook to meh side and back. I start punch he trying to get he off from me but he stabbed me like three more times. I managed to run away but he run behind me and we had another lil scuffle and he give me two more jook but I manage to run come home,” Panchu added.
He stated that he immediately went to the station and made a report and then went to the hospital for medical treatment.
While he was there his wife informed him that Rampersaud had been stabbed and had been rushed to the hospital. The man said with his injuries being minor he went to the Woodlands Hospital to enquire about the condition of his friend and neighbour. When he got there he was informed that Rampersaud had passed away.
“I never expect this here. This man (Rampersaud) was a good man and always looking out for people. But like this man (suspect) get it in he long to do something,” Panchu opined.
Rampersaud’s stepfather, Lall Singh yesterday said that he and Rampersaud were returning from the market but he went ahead with his bicycle and Rampersaud was left behind. He stated that by time he got home, he received news that Rampersaud was lying on the roadway.
“When he is home every Sunday we does go market but I tell he this morning that he don’t have to come because is not a lot I have to buy but he come anyway… I tell he I go ride and come home you tek you time and come. By time I come home I hear the bhai stab he and left he on the road,” the grieving man said.
According to Singh, he and the suspect had developed a close relationship over the years and he would be around them. He stated that the man would sometimes sleep in his yard and wash his clothing there since he did not have running water.
“He never like when this boy is around like he was jealous or something. My stepson would work one month offshore and be one month home but every time this boy around he don’t like that. So two weeks ago I had to put him out and like that caused some grievance. Since then he has been drinking rum and coming and misbehave in front of us here,” Singh lamented.
Subsequent to the attack, public-spirited citizens with support from the police launched an operation and managed to apprehend the suspect.
Police said he is currently in custody at the Sparendaam Police Station. He was escorted to the Nabaclis Public Hospital where he was treated and sent away and he is presently in custody.
The suspect also handed over the blade and a crow bar to the police.
