THE partly nude body of fish vendor and father of two, 55-year-old Robert Manner, also known as “Jakee”, of 3957 Westminster, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was found yesterday morning face down in front of his drinking buddy’s home; and relatives suggest he may have been murdered by one of their kin who was given to abusing him.

They said the man’s body was discovered where he would usually go and drink with his friend, and sometimes the relative — who has since gone into hiding — would visit.
Speaking with this newspaper from the home Manner had shared with his brother and other relatives, his niece said she received a call informing that her uncle was found dead; and  when she visited the area, she discovered her uncle’s battered and semi-nude body lying face down in a pool of water, with his pants down to his knees.
Closer examination of the body revealed a laceration to his head, which was bleeding. The woman also spoke of seeing blood in the home of the friend at whom he was drinking the night before, Friday. That friend has reportedly since been taken into police custody, even as another suspect, whom it is believed was with Manner at the time of his death, has since gone into hiding.
One Lakhram, a minibus conductor who is said to be related to Manner, was at the house when Manner reportedly met his demise. The Chronicle was informed that, early yesterday morning, Lakhram’s mother visited the home where the incident occurred and took her son away, and he ‘has since become invisible’.
The police yesterday arrested Lakhram’s mother for questioning in relation to his whereabouts.
The woman who found the body on the roadside yesterday morning said she had left her home, a few yards away, and was heading up the road when she saw a dog apparently mingling with something on the road. As she reached closer, she realized that it was “Jakee”, and she immediately raised an alarm.
She said the man usually vends fish in the area, and her household did not know him personally, but they are aware that he would come from time to time to the back of the community and drink with his friend. She described him as easygoing and pleasant.
Residents in the area said that when the police visited the home of the dead man’s friend, the friend was there and was taken into custody, where, up to late last evening, he was being questioned in relation to the circumstances surrounding the death of the man.
When the Chronicle visited the area yesterday morning, persons were openly expressing their surprise and sadness at Manner’s passing and the way in which he met his demise.