AN argument over washroom space and privacy has left 52-year-old Alvy Israel Richmond, a father of three and a mechanic of Strath-Campbell, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara dead, whilst the alleged assailant, whose only name was given as Travis, is in police custody to face the murder charge.

Travis is the reputed husband of Richmond’s sister.

The Chronicle has been informed that both men simultaneously wanted to use the washroom at the above address, which is not an abnormal practice with the family, and neither would give place to the other.
Eighty-year-old Ernestine Richmond, who spoke with this publication, said her son Alvy Richmond came home just after 17:00hrs and was chatting with her before he decided that he wanted to urinate.

The woman explained that both the toilet and the bathroom can be accessed from one main door, but there is a blind separating the two, and the family understanding is that whenever one facility is in use, the door should remain open to facilitate another member of the family who might want to use the other facility.

She said Travis, who was taking a bath, had the main door closed, and when Alvy approached to access the toilet, he found himself locked out. He began to quarrel, Travis responded, and the two continued in a state of animation for some time.
Travis then exited the bathroom and continued arguing with Alvy, who then ordered him out of the yard; an instruction with which he reluctantly complied. Travis then challenged Alvy to a fight on the road, but that challenged was declined even as the arguments continued.

Mrs. Richmond said she was sitting in the kitchen listening to the men throughout the ordeal, and then she saw her son entering the home from the front door, stumbling and clutching his stomach. She said he began bumping into everything in his path, and when she looked closer, she realised that a knife protruded from his chest. He then fell at her feet bleeding, and she called out for help.

Persons rushed over to the home, saw the man and unsuccessful attempts to get a vehicle to transport him to the hospital. He reportedly died seconds later in the yard.

Travis then attempted to flee the scene, but was apprehended and handed over to the police.

Alvy’s youngest child, a girl, witnessed the entire ordeal, and was up to late last evening giving the police a statement and account of what she had witnessed.

The late Alvy Richmond leaves to mourn his three children and thirteen siblings, along with his mother and relatives and friends.

This latest stabbing incident has brought the number of knife-related murders to four, in two days, following the double murder of two members of the ‘Gay’ community on Sunday. A woman was also stabbed to death at Crane village a few days ago.

(By Leroy Smith)