THE Guyana Prison Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding the stabbing to death of inmate Theon Smith by another prisoner at the Mazaruni Prison yesterday morning.

Smith was reportedly stabbed by fellow inmate, Akeem Edwards.
The Guyana Chronicle was unable to ascertain the time of the incident, but was told that the two men were involved in an argument which led to the stabbing during a fight. The men reportedly had an ongoing feud that got out of hand yesterday.
Information reaching this newspaper stated that both of the men were sent to the facility, after being charged and convicted for robbery under arms. The two men were each sentenced to three five-year sentences, even as one of them awaited trial in the High Court.
In addition, while it is not clear which of the two, this newspaper was also told by sources familiar with the operations of the centre that one of the two men was sent to the facility for security reasons. The source did not go into details of what the security reasons were that caused the administration of the prisons to send the individual to Mazaruni.
Information suggested that Smith was charged with ten counts of armed robbery and was serving three five-year sentences. Edwards on the other hand was also at the facility for similar offences along with being in possession of a .38 handgun with matching ammunition.
Up to late last evening, the Guyana Chronicle tried but failed to obtain comments from the Director of Prisons and the Home Affairs Minister, as neither could be reached by telephone.

(By Leroy Smith)