A 55-year-old boat captain is missing after he was allegedly pushed overboard by two passengers who the police say “both appeared to be of unsound mind.”
Elick Alexander of Silver City, Wismar, Linden was pushed overboard within the vicinity of the Wismar shore in the Demerara River at about 01:00hrs on Saturday.
According to a statement from Police Headquarters, Alexander operated a passenger boat from the Wismar shore to the Mackenzie shore. The vessel is owned by Leslie Orna.
“At around 01:00hrs this morning, Alexander was on the Mackenzie shore awaiting passengers when Brian Hermanstyne, a 25-year-old unemployed man of Amelia’s Ward Mackenzie, and Elden Hermanstyne, a 24-year-old unemployed man of Red Cresent Road, Mackenzie, boarded the boat for Wismar shore,” the police stated.
While the boat was about 40 feet off the Wismar shore, Alexander was allegedly ‘pushed’ out of the boat and the boat then proceeded north on the Demerara River.
The matter was later reported to the police and an investigation was launched.
The boat was located with the use of a drone and brought to shore along with the two suspects.
“They were told of the allegation, arrested, and escorted to Wismar Police Station and placed in custody. The boat was searched, but nothing of evidential value was found,” police said.
Searches were carried out in the Demerara River for Alexander, but he was not found.
How sad! I do hope that the case would not be thrown out of the Magistrates Court because of their mental status. After all, it is a whole life that has been lost. They were sane enough to push the deceased overboard therefore they must face the long arm if the law.