CRIME Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday confirmed that due to diligent investigation a suspect in police custody in ‘D’ Division has confessed to his involvement in the murder of Davonan Sookram.

He said that while they have made a breakthrough in that probe and are making some progress he did not wish to disclose much information at this time.

Sookram, a seaman, who was reportedly executed, will be laid to rest today.
Sookram, 37, left home on July 27 for Parika and had been missing since.
Police reported that at about noon on July 31, they received information that a decomposing body was observed along the access road at Ruby, with a suspected gunshot wound to the head. It was later identified to be that of the missing man, Sookram.

A post-mortem performed on the remains of Sookram revealed that he died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Meanwhile, a visit to the man’s former residence which is the last house down Devil’s Dam, Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo, found his relatives, including his spouse, very reluctant to talk to the media.

They did not divulge much information except that his funeral was planned for today and there was a wake.

Anyway, during a chat with some villagers this publication was told, after some hesitation, that Sookram and his spouse and children kept to themselves but were cordial.

Sookram was a seaman and was away from home for extended periods while his wife is a teacher and they occupied a cottage aback a larger property owned by relatives.

They too seemed reluctant to talk the media about the deceased as if there was something eerie about the murder.

From the onset the police said very little about the case except that a three-day extension period was granted to the police to further detain the only suspect for questioning.

The suspect is said to be an ex-cop, turned taxi driver, who the deceased left his home with for Parika. He, however, told detectives that he indeed picked up Sookram from his home but on their way to Parika he joined a friend’s car and that was the last time he saw him.

Following the homicide cops arrested the private hire taxi driver for questioning. (Michel Outridge)