–found hiding in barrel in cemetery

A KNOWN felon who is considered the prime suspect in the murder of the Ann’s Grove girl whose body was discovered in the Hope Canal, East Coast Demerara (E.C.D.) on August 9, 2016 was caught by police in the wee hours of Thursday morning.Police said 29-year-old Alvin Reid, called ‘Satan’, of Ann’s Grove was found hiding in a barrel in the Ann’s Grove cemetery after he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of 14-year-old Malika Hamilton of Ann’s Grove, E.C.D.

It was noted that ‘Satan’ who is well known to police has charges pending in relation to break and enter, larceny and robbery.

Government Pathologist Dr. Nehal Singh conducted an autopsy on the body of Hamilton and found she was brutally bludgeoned to her head, strangled, and dumped alive in the Hope Canal.

The second year Hope Secondary School student died of ‘asphyxiation’, a condition of severe deficiency in the supply of oxygen to the body as a result of abnormal breathing. An example of asphyxia is choking.

The ‘Miss African Calabash 2014’ beauty queen had left her home at Lot 11, Two Friends Village, Ann’s Grove, E.C.D. but never returned. Her body was fished out of the Hope Canal the following day, where it was spotted by the canal’s ranger.

Malika Hamilton, whose Facebook name is Iheart Malika, a few months ago, had posted on her page, “If love only exist in my dreams, don’t wake me up!!!!!!” Relatives of the dead teenager are calling for swift justice as police investigations continue.