GIVEN the recent incident in which a fourth body was found at a foreshore location on Guyana’s Coastal Plain within a month’s time, Crime Chief Leslie James has told this publication that police investigations have not determined a trend in occurrence of this type of incident, but it is safe to say that it is just an occurrence.

He explained that these homicides are not linked, but are probably just coincidental; however, they are of concern to law enforcement agencies.

He reiterated his appeal to all citizens to report to the police anything which they consider unusual, since a person or persons is/are taking the time to commit these heinous crimes and dumping the bodies on sea defences across the country.

James, however, advised young people not to venture out on the seawalls alone, or wander off into the night; since some persons are using the cover of darkness to hide their crimes, and, in addition, there is the possibility of them being attacked as well.

He said the police would be maintaining their mobile patrols as much as they could, but he noted that some areas are very desolate and are unlit. He also said that the police are working with the Ministry of Works to have some desolate areas illuminated.

James explained that, from the police probe, it appears as though the dumping of bodies on the seawalls reflect a ‘copycat’ mentality, since wannabe criminals may have read about this type of disposal of murdered persons and copied same in an effort to dispose of bodies.

James cautioned such persons to desist from this practice, since the arm of the law is very long and will certainly meet them soon.

At the same time, he said, he does not believe that a serial killer has been let loose in Guyanese society, since the crimes vary and the only thing they have in common is that all four bodies had been dumped on the seawalls in different locations. As such, he said, there is not sufficient cause to make a pronouncement.

The body of 26-year-old Ramesh Katarnauth of Lot 83 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty was found on the Kitty foreshore on March 22 last. His cause of death was given as asphyxia due to drowning, compounded by compression injury to the neck and multiple blunt trauma to the body.

Katarnauth had left home to make a purchase at a nearby shop, but had never returned home.

On March 27 last, the nude body of 17-year-old Alicia Ali of Fourth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara was found trapped between boulders at the seawalls by UG Road. She had gone missing on March 25 after going to a nearby shop to make a purchase for her mother.

The dismembered body of Samantha Benjamin of Middle walk, Buxton, East Coast Demerara was found on March 27 last at Annandale seawalls.
She had been killed at her home, and her body parts had been dumped at the location.

The semi-nude body of Davkumari Ramadar, 17, of Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara was found on the La Jalousie foreshore on April 11 last.
She had gone missing on April 4, after storming out of her workplace.

By Michel Outridge