TWENTY-SIX-year-old Eustace Griffith, a vagrant who is usually found around the Stabroek Market environs, appeared on Thursday before City Magistrate Judy Latchman, charged with murdering Stabroek Market handyman Steven Dexter Arthur of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, on July 4 at Hadfield Street, Georgetown.He was not required to plead to the charge, and was remanded to prison until July 15, while the matter was transferred before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Reports are that on the day in question, at about 07:00hrs, both men were engaged, at the Stabroek Market Square, in a heated argument which soon turned into a fight, during which Griffith pulled out a knife and stabbed Arthur to his chest, causing him to die on the spot. The altercation reportedly started after Arthur had allegedly thrown a plantain skin on Griffith.

After committing the act, Griffith allegedly attempted to escape, but was pursued by eyewitnesses and led straight to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was turned over to the police.