Alcoholic charged with murder of 7-year-old

Berbice. It has been revealed that Fizal Muhammed has admitted to the murder of seven year old Shaheed Muknauth.

Muhammed promised the lad Chinese food if he accompanied him to collect an item at the rice mill.

The perpetrator, also called “Mongoose”,  an alcoholic who frequently smokes marijuana, reportedly told investigators that after collecting the child, he took him to a house to purchase “weed” where he spent some time before heading to the rice mill to collect the item.

It was there, he murdered the former Number 68 Primary School pupil. The child’s face was immensely disfigured beyond recognition and his intestines were protruding. After admitting to the horrendous act, he was taken into police custody and was taken to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court where he was remanded, and the prosecution was requested to take a caution statement from the accused.

However, an autopsy report confirmed that the child died as a result of a fractured skull.

 Based on information received, the perpetrator collected Muknauth at about 13:00h on Tuesday under the pretext that he was going to purchase food, but after hours elapsed and the child did not return, a search ensued, but proved futile.

It was until Wednesday afternoon the gruesome discovery was made by a teenager who was a part of the search party. He was discovered in a clump of bushes and was already in a decomposing state.

A community policing group member said based on reports received, the perpetrator is related to the dead child, hence when he collected him on the morning he went missing, relatives were not suspicious.

Mongoose on Thursday made an appearance at the Skeldon Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge of murder and was refused bail by Magistrate Krissondat Persaud, and will make another court appearance on September 13.

Given the financial status of the family, the funeral expenses for the child were covered by the policing group. The lad was laid to rest yesterday amidst mixed emotions.

Three weeks ago, 13-year-old Basmattie Moonsammy of Woodley Park, Corentyne, Berbice, was found murdered in a rice field,while yesterday the body of  12-year-old  Joshua Chunillal was discovered in a canal in John's,Corentyne.