Duo accused of killing Linden man granted $400k bail

Two men were on Tuesday released on $400,000 bail for allegedly killing 47-year-old Samuel De Souza, who was beaten to death with a piece of wood at Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, recently.

Utho Duke, 26, and Orlando Montooth, 34, both residents of Victory Valley, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court, charged with manslaughter.  The duo was not required to plea to the charge, which alleged that on March 6, 2021, at Victory Valley, they unlawfully killed De Souza.

Magistrate Fortune released the two men on $400,000 bail with the condition that they report to the Wismar Police Station two times per month. The case is adjourned to April 22, 2021.

According to reports, De Souza, a labourer of Victory Valley, was found dead in a track leading to his home on March 6. Police had revealed that DeSouza, who lived alone, had an altercation with a female shortly before he was found dead. The woman, along with her daughter, reportedly confronted De Souza who ran away through the track leading to his home.

Some 30 minutes later, two males came out of the said track and told the woman and her daughter that DeSouza was dead.

The police, upon arrival at the scene, observed that DeSouza was lying on his back and a wooden-handle spear was observed resting on his body with what appeared to be blood.

Three knives and a screwdriver were found in the waist of his pants; his mouth and right ear had what appeared to be blood oozing. There were superficial bruises seen on the exposed parts of his body.

DeSouza was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead. The two men, Duke and Montooth were later arrested. Under caution, the men told the police that they were attacked by De Souza and acted in self-defence.