…Police detain 31-yr-old father
THE quiet community of Dr. Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara is reeling from shock following the brutal murder of two of three children on Tuesday night.
The third was listed in a critical condition up to press time, nursing multiple cutlass wounds about the body. Dead are Belika Blanchard, 10, and her four-year-old brother, Daniel, while seven-year-old Joy is hospitalised.
Police yesterday reported that they have launched an investigation into the double murder which occurred at their home.
Investigations so far reveal that John Blanchard, 31, the father of Daniel and Joy, and stepfather of Belika, is alleged to have severely chopped the children about their bodies.
Belika and Daniel were pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, while Joy has been admitted in critical condition to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The suspect has been arrested and is in police custody.
The children were allegedly hacked to death by their father, John Blanchard, a boiled corn vendor, whom, neighbours said, seemed to be a well-mannered man.
One male neighbour told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that around 17:00hrs, he saw Blanchard and the three children returning home from a nearby creek, when he heard the man telling them that he would stop them from going to the creek.
He stated that the man hailed him as they passed, and he seemed calm as he and the children walked home. He said he was shocked when he heard of the murder.
The neighbour said the family moved to the area a year ago and they managed to construct a modest wooden cottage, and it seemed that they were having financial problems.
He learnt that Blanchard’s wife had left the home  about two weeks ago to seek employment as a cook in Mahdia, a move with which he was not happy.
He could not say what prompted the man to so brutally murder his children while they were asleep.

Police Crime Chief, Seelall Persaud, said that the suspect gave a statement to the police, but did not reveal his motive for killing the children.