Man remanded for killing sister’s boyfriend

Frank McCallister, 21, of Heatburn Village, East Bank Berbice (EBB), has been remanded to prison for allegedly killing his sister’s boyfriend, Oswin Lawson called “Black Boy”.

Lawson, a 42-year-old taxi driver of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, was pronounced dead after the vehicle he was driving crashed along the Edinburgh Public Road, East Bank Berbice, early Tuesday morning, after he was reportedly stabbed during an argument moments earlier.

McCallister, a contractor, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with manslaughter. He was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court for June 4.

Initial police reports had indicated that the incident was being treated as a fatal accident after Lawson’s motor car, HD 8644, crashed into a roadside stand before ending up submerged in a canal at about 01:30h.

According to Police, Lawson was driving south along the eastern drive lane of the Edinburgh Public Road at a fast rate of speed when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle and collided with the stand situated on the eastern grass parapet before plunging into the trench. Investigators initially suspected that the driver may have fallen asleep.

However, the investigation later took a dramatic turn after several suspected stab wounds were discovered on Lawson’s upper body.

Police subsequently revisited the scene and, based on information received, arrested the 21-year-old contractor.

According to police, Lawson was at a social gathering at a shop along the Edinburgh Public Road when an argument allegedly erupted between him and the 21-year-old suspect. The confrontation reportedly escalated, during which Lawson was allegedly attacked.

Police said the injured man later entered his vehicle and drove away from the scene before the vehicle went overboard into the trench.

In court, the prosecutor Corporal Sherry Williams asked that bail be refused, citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that a knife was used in the execution of the crime, “and the victim is dead”.

Attorney at law Chandra Sohan, representing the accused, argued that it is a bailable offence. “…it is manslaughter, we know that he is dead,” Sohan said.

In the end, the magistrate agreed with the prosecutor and remanded to accused.