A 35-YEAR-OLD man was on Thursday charged with murder of a miner who was recently beaten to death with a spade at the Potaro Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) during an argument.

Naresh Baldeo, called Blackboy, of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke Highway, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plea to the capital offence.

The charge read that on August 12 at Potaro Backdam, Baldeo murdered Mohabeer Gangadeen, 54 of Old Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara. Baldeo’s attorney, Tiffany Jeffery told the court that her client was beaten by Gangadeen with a spade and requested that he be given medical treatment while being remanded.

The Magistrate adjourned the matter until October 17 and transferred it to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court. According to reports, both men are miners and worked together at Potaro Backdam. On the day in question both men were consuming alcohol when there was a physical confrontation. The two men were reportedly overseeing the operation of a dredge in an old mining pit when Gangadeen accused the suspect of being in collusion with the general manager to steal gold. This led to an argument and Gangadeen is alleged to have picked up a spade and dealt the suspect several lashes about his hand, face and body.

Baldeo was able to wrest the spade from Gangadeen and dealt him several lashes about his body, before pushing him overboard. After learning of the confrontation, the police reportedly apprehended the suspect, who initially claimed that Gangadeen had been drinking and fell into the water and died. However, the multiple marks of violence about his body told a different story, and the suspect, who also had marks of violence, later recanted his story and told the police the truth.