Father of three charged with murdering Sir Mars

A 24-year-old man who was seen on camera with educator and comedian Kirwyn Mars moments before he was killed on Sunday last, was on Friday charged with murder.

Brian Richard, a father of three of Industrial Site, John Fernandes, West Ruimveldt, made an appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/Grove Magistrates’ Court.

He was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge. The court heard that on May 7, 2023, at Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Mars.

He was remanded to prison until June 23 when the statements for the case will be disclosed to the court. According to the police prosecutor, the post-mortem report and other statements are outstanding.

Following the disclosure of statements, Magistrate Scarce said the preliminary inquiry will commence on August 7.

Mars was found pinned between his car and an apartment building fence.

According to the autopsy conducted on Wednesday, the deceased was stabbed eight times about his body, including to to his chest, right shoulder, collarbone and left hand and right elbow.

The pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, gave Mars’ cause of death as crush injuries to the chest compounded by “multiple cutaneous wounds.”

The Police, in its official report on Monday, revealed that two knives were recovered at the scene; the incident occurred at about 22:30 hrs. Richard was arrested at his workplace on Tuesday.

In addition, Police Headquarters released photographs of Sir Mars and Richard arriving and leaving the Green City Bar located at the corners of D’Urban Street and Vlissengen Road at about 17:38 hrs.

It is alleged that Mars and the suspect had a “misunderstanding” that escalated inside Mars’ vehicle. As a result, both parties armed themselves with knives and stabbed each other.

Mars exited the vehicle in an attempt to escape but the suspect reversed the vehicle and pinned him to the fence.

Richard then exited the vehicle and escaped in a southern direction on foot.

Sir Mars joined the teaching profession in 1992. He was also an actor and comedian. He was the deputy principal at the New Central High School in Georgetown.