Lusignan inmate clubbed to death with brick

Four days after he was remanded to the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara on a charge of trafficking cannabis, 40-year-old Victor Soomaru was beaten with a piece of brick wrapped inside a towel.

Director of Prisons (ag), Nicklon Elliot revealed that on Thursday, February 04, at about 21:05h, an alarm was raised by prisoners housed in Unit #1 of the ‘Quarantine Section’.

The Officers on duty responded and it was reported that Soomaru was badly beaten while he was asleep by another remanded prisoner. The director said Soomaru was immediately taken out of the unit and escorted to the Prison Infirmary where he was seen by the medical personnel on duty and given the necessary medical attention.

He was later referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for further medical treatment and was seen and examined by a doctor on duty.

On February 5, 2021, at about 10:30h, Soomaru died. He was housed in Unit # 1 along with three other prisoners, including the suspect.

Soomaru previously resided at Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown; his body is at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a  post-mortem examination.

Police are investigating the matter and the suspect has been “relocated,” according to the prison director.