TRAVIS James, main suspect in the stabbing to death of 52-year-old Alvy Israel Richmond of Strath-Campbell, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, has confessed to the police that he murdered his reputed wife’s brother with the use of a knife during an argument.

The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that James told the police yesterday that he became enraged when the deceased ordered him to leave the premises and to never return, and also when Richmond informed James that he was barred from entering another property the Richmond family owned a short distance away.

Police sources also confirmed that James had been deported from Barbados after spending three months in jail for drug possession.

On Monday afternoon, James and Richmond had an argument over space in the washroom when James became overly aggressive and stabbed Richmond to the chest, causing Richmond’s demise.
After committing the act, James had made a dash for freedom, but was apprehended by persons in the area.

Speaking with this publication, persons in the area said James has always been a hot-headed person who would, from time to time, get into arguments with persons over very simple things. He would also allegedly blow things out of proportion, and had a penchant for engaging in lengthy arguments in which he would display uncalled for aggression.

Contacted for a comment yesterday after James had confessed to the killing, Ernestine Richmond, mother of the late Alvy Israel Richmond, told the Guyana Chronicle that she wanted to hear nothing about the confession because what James did was wrong. She said that this is not the time for apologies and confessions.

“Why he did what he did to my son?” she questioned. According to her, the two men never had arguments before, but there had been times when her son would accord James a cordial greeting which James would ignore.

“Let him go and face the law! Let him spend his time! Let him go where he needs to go! When you sorry for magga dog dem does turn round and bite you!” the woman remarked.

Mrs Richmond recalled that although her son was reluctant to physically challenge James, James forced the issue and attacked her son, killing him in the process.

She said that James had been a guest at the Richmonds because he really had nowhere to go and because he was seeing her daughter, but they never expected him to one day turn on one of the family members.

She said James should suffer for what he did to her child, and she called for swift justice for the late Alvy.

Alvy Israel Richmond was murdered on Monday by Travis James, who plunged a knife into his chest after the two had had an argument at the Richmond residence at Strath-Campbell, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

(By Leroy Smith)