Man who killed reputed wife and children in burning house charged

Kenford Downer the man who set fire to his home in Four Miles  Bartica Housing scheme killing his reputed with and two children was today charged with three counts of murder.
That incident took place on December 12th at the couple’s home and has left Caroline Kennedy and her 5 and 3-year-old daughters, Mariana Downer and Gabriella Kennedy dead.
Downer appeared at the Bartica Magistrates’ Court session, which was held at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Crystal Lambert where the indictable charge was read to him.
He was charged with three counts of murder in the course or furtherance of arson. Downer sought medical attention hours after the gruesome incident which sent shockwaves throughout the town.
There are reports that the fire was set by the man following a misunderstanding between the couple. It is believed that when the house was set on fire the woman and her two children were asleep and were trapped in the fire. When the fire was put out by the Guyana Fire Service, the charred remains of the mother and her two daughters were discovered.
Downer was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on January 27th, 2021.

Police Office of Professional Responsibility called in to investigate clash between police and Robbery suspect

Video of the incident and the police version of events

POLICE PRESS RELEASE

About 16:35hrs  Sunday January 03, 2021, ranks of a mobile police patrol responded to a report of robbery with aggravation committed on a man in the Stabroek Market area.

The ranks arrested a male suspect and placed him in the police vehicle, during which he became aggressive and attacked the ranks who were forced to defend themselves. This led to a physical confrontation between the suspect and the police, part of which has been circulating on social media.

The suspect was eventually subdued and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where he was identified by the victim as being one of the men who had robbed him of a Samsung smartphone and twenty-five thousand dollars, local currency.

The suspect is in police custody and has refused medical attention, while the injured police ranks were treated at the GPHC.

The Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the matter.

The Police Force is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident, between the suspect and the members of the Force, to make contact with the Officer in charge of the Police OPR on Telephone number 227-1926 or the Commander of the Regional Police Division on 226-1389.

Two pensioners are Guyana’s latest COVID-19 deaths, death toll now stand at 166

Guyana has recorded its first two COVID-19 related deaths for the year, taking the death toll from the infectious disease to 166.

The Health Ministry today identified the fatalities as two male pensioners, a 70-year-old from East Berbice-Corentyne and an 85-year-old from the Upper-Demerara-Berbice Region.

The two pensioners according to the Ministry, died at its facilities where they were receiving treatment.

The Ministry said it is reminding Guyanese to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures in place until January 31. The measures emphasized by the Ministry is the need to wear face masks in public, maintaining a distance of six feet, and observing good hand hygiene.

Meanwhile, the country’s total COVID-19 cases now stand at 6,379, an increase of 21 new cases, according to the Ministry of Health. Four persons are currently in the COVID-19 ICU. Guyana currently has 273 active COVID-19 cases of which 264 of the cases are on approved home isolation with 9 persons in institutional isolation.

Two dead in Line Path Public Road Corentyne accident

Dead are  Thurman Megnat, age 26 years, of Line Path E, Corentyne Berbice, along with occupant Nimrod Persaud, age  36 years,  of Line Path D, Corentyne Berbice. That accident involved two motor cars and occurred around 18:10hrs today.
The police are reporting that their enquires disclosed that motorcar PYY 7581 was proceeding North along the Western drive lane while motorcar PLL 4090 was proceeding South along the Eastern drive lane when the driver alleged that as he was in the process of passing motorcar PLL 4090,  the said car suddenly swerved into his lane and collided head on.
According to the police, as a result of the collision both drivers and the occupant received injuries about their bodies. They were all taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where they were seen and examined by the Doctor on duty who pronounced both the driver and occupant of motorcar PLL 4090 dead, while the driver of motorcar PYY 7581 is presently receiving medical attention in the accident and emergency unit. His condition is regarded as stable.   A Breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of motorcar PYY 7581, and same gave a zero reading. The police Investigations into the fatal accident are ongoing.

Clothes vendor shot dead, another vendor in custody

Dead is Paul Anthony Smith c/d Blacka, age 32 years, a clothes vendor of Lot 31 Bent Street Werk-en-Rust Georgetown. He was shot in his back by the suspect on Commerce Street Georgetown around around 18:30hrs on New Year’s Day.
The Guyana Police Force is reporting that their enquiries disclosed that the victim was observed holding a cutlass and heading to his car when he was shot by another male, who is also a clothes vendor at Longden and Commerce Street and of East La Penitence Georgetown, after which he fell on the front passenger seat of his car.
Smith was subsequently picked up by public spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced him dead. His body bore one gun shot wound to the upper back the police report said.
According to the police, acting upon information received, the Police arrested the 29 year old suspect who is presently in custody assisting with the Investigation.
The body of the deceased is currently at the GPHC Morgue awaiting Post Mortem Examination.

Guyanese man killed by gang in Suriname

Dead is 20-year-old Norris Dundas Vanderstoop, a Fisherman of Epsom Village, Corentyne Berbice.There are reports that Vanderstoop was fatally stabbed by a group of men in Paramaribo, Suriname on Tuesday.
His brother, Leroy Vanderstoop, told reporters that the family learnt from one of his brothers that the young man rushed to the assistance of one of his friends who was being attacked by a group of men when he was fatally stabbed and dumped in a clump
of bushes. He was later rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He said at the time, his late brother was outside of his Paramaribo, Suriname apartment talking to someone on his cell phone when he saw what was unfolding.
Several others were also injured during the ordeal. Leroy told reporters that the death of his brother was a shock to the family.
The young man’s family is calling on the Surinamese authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter so that justice can be served. There are reports that several persons were arrested in Suriname and others may have fled to Guyana.

Cuban National charged with the murder of mother and daughter

The indictable charge of murder was today read to Cuban national Yoel Rodriguez, who is accused of killing Tara Krishnaran and her 11-year-old daughter.
The man appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennon and was not required to plea to the charges.
The murder took place between December 25th and 26th at Princess Street, Lodge. The victims motionless bodies were discovered by the woman’s father at her home in Princess Street, Lodge.

The Post Mortem report revealed that the Eleven-year-old was sexually abused and gave her cause of death as blunt trauma to the head and an incised wound to the neck.

Her 34-year-old mother also suffered blunt trauma to the head. The initial police report on the incident indicated that the woman was found with a wound to the back of her head, left side temple, and the left side of her face. Her daughter’s body was found with a wound about six inches in length to her neck and what appeared to be blood on her private parts. A blood-stained hammer and knife were also retrieved. Rodriguez was arrested in Linden after he fled the murder scene. He was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on January 18th.

Mother and 11 year old died as a result of blunt trauma to the head

Eleven-year-old allegedly murdered by Cuban National was sexually abused. A Post mortem examination conducted on the body of the child revealed that her cause of death was blunt trauma to the head and an incised wound to the neck.

According to the police, the post mortem examination pointed to evidence of sexual abuse. The police in their initial report on the deaths said the child’s body had a wound of about six inches in length to her neck and what appears to be blood on her private parts.

The mother, 34-year-old Tara Krishnaran’s death was said to be blunt trauma to the head. The bodies of the two were found in their Princess Street, Lodge home on December 26th.

The main suspect, a Cuban national identified as Yoel Rodriguez Barientos is currently in police custody. He was arrested in the Linden.

Cuban national wanted for Princess Street double murder arrested

Cuban national, Joel Rodriguez aka Yoel Rodriguez Barientos for whom a wanted bulletin was published on December 27th in connection with the murders of Tara Krishnaran and her 11 year old daughter was arrested in Linden at Amelia’s Ward on 2020-12-27.

The victims motionless bodies were discovered by the woman’s father at her home in Princess Street, Lodge.

 Tara was found with a wound to the back of her head, left side temple and the left side of her face. Her daughter’s body was found with a wound about six inches in length to her neck and what appeared to be blood on her private parts. A blood stained hammer and knife were also retrieved.