Labourer charged with murder of NA man

Thirty-four-year-old Ryan Dhanpat on Friday appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, charged with the murder of Kevin Small.

It is alleged that on March 12, Dhanpat, at Budhan’s Housing Scheme, West Canje Berbice murdered Small of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until April 28, 2023.

The Police had previously reported that on the day of the incident, Small, Shamar Wilson and two others, ventured to Caracas Dam to swim in the trench when Dhanpat and his crew of two showed up and confronted them.

The confrontation led to a heated argument that turned physical. Small reportedly jumped into the trench to escape the attack but Dhanpat caught him and reportedly chopped him about the body.

In an effort to save Small, Wilson also jumped inside the trench, but he too was attacked and chopped.

Dhanpat and his friends escaped while Wilson was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was admitted and treated. Small was later found motionless near a house at Budhan Scheme.

The next day, Dhanpat was arrested while he was making his way out of Berbice in a hire car. He was caught during a roadblock.

An autopsy revealed that Small died from shock and heamorrhage compounded by an incised wound to the forearm.