23-Y-O Miner remanded for Old Year’s Night murder

Tyrel James was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and he was not required to plead to the indictable offence.

It is alleged that on New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2014) at Aranka Village he murdered 52-year-old Augustine Samuels also known as Jack.

James was unrepresented by legal counsel and no details into the incident were presented by Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant. At the end of the short hearing, the case was transferred to the Mabaruma Magistrates’ Court for February 16.

According to reports, Samuels, a logger, was stabbed about the body around 19:30 hrs at a popular drinking spot in Aranka on the day in question. He was rushed to the Mabaruma Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries he received.

Police said that Samuels and James were imbibing at a shop when the younger man got involved in an argument with the shop owner.

The shop owner managed to escape but an infuriated James brandished a knife and attacked Samuels who was acting as peacemaker at the time. Though he fled the scene, James was later arrested and charged with the capital offence.