‘Coconut Man’ on $500k bail for allegedly killing Better Hope engineer

Stherlinga Gilkes, 43, called ‘Coconut man’ or ‘Herby’, was granted $500,000 bail after he was charged with the stabbing death of Neil Rampersaud, a 31-year-old engineer of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Gilkes, a vendor from Victoria Road, Plaisance, ECD, appeared before Magistrate Russell Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was charged with manslaughter.

He was not required to enter a plea and was subsequently placed on bail.

The matter was adjourned until July 8, 2022, for reports.

Rampersaud was killed during a fight with Gilkes on Sunday at Zahora Street, Better Hope.

Police Headquarters reported that before the incident with Rampersaud, Gilkes and a 42-year-old carpenter, Mohan Panchu, were involved in an altercation. Panchu was reportedly stabbed with a steel rod during the fight with Gilkes.

After that altercation, Rampersaud, who lived on the same street as Panchu, confronted the Gilkes.

Rampersaud reportedly told the Gilkes that he had to go to the police station for wounding Panchu. The two men got into a fight when Rampersaud was stabbed to the upper left side of his ribs.

Rampersaud was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where he died while receiving medical treatment.