Suspects remain in custody as Police seek legal advice in murder of Anna Catherina fisherman

Investigators have wrapped up their investigation into the murder of fisherman, Monoff Azeem, who was beaten and stabbed at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara on Monday.

The file was sent for legal advice, Police Commander of Region Three, Mahendra Sewnarine told the News Room on Thursday.

In the meantime, Sewnarine said five suspects remain in Police custody.

An autopsy on Thursday revealed that Azeem died as a result of a perforated heart and lung due to a stab wound.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Police Headquarters said the five men approached Azeem, who is also called ‘Goat man’, at the Anna Catherina Sea Wall and accused him of chopping up their seine.

One of the suspects was armed with a cutlass, while another was armed with a knife, the Police said.

“An argument ensued and the suspect with the knife dealt Azeem one stab to his lower right-side chest. Azeem ran a short distance before collapsing to the ground,” the Police explained.

Azeem was later picked up and taken to the hospital; he was pronounced dead.

It was also reported that the suspects fled the scene after attacking Azeem.

As they fled, Police said one of the suspects, who is a 28-year-old fisherman, ran towards his car bearing registration number, PLL 4734.

As he approached the car, officers who were patrolling the area, stopped the man and arrested him. That suspect then pointed out the others who were involved in the attack.

Irate residents, however, pushed the suspect’s car into a nearby gutter and set it on fire.

In an interview with the News Room on Monday, the dead man’s sister Bibi Shameeza Azeem said her brother was not the intended target of the attack but his brother-in-law was.