By Lazeena Yearwood
Leon Mars, the brother of Kirwyn Mars, on Friday, said his family has forgiven Brian Richard, the man charged with the murder of the teacher and comedian.
‘Sir Mars’ as he was popularly known, was found pinned between his car and an apartment building on May 7, 2023, at Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara. Richard was on Friday charged with murder and remanded to prison until June 7.
During an interview with reporters at the Diamond/ Grove Magistrate’s Court moments after the matter was heard in the courtroom of Magistrate Sunil Scarce, Leon said now that the matter is before the court, his family can get closure.
“We are still hurting, everybody knows Sir Mars, he was very popular in education and in theatre, he didn’t deserve to die the way he died.
“Nevertheless, we have to bring closure and I have said before, one way in bringing closure to this whole matter is that we have to forgive and so my family has forgiven the young man. We have to forgive the young man so that we can move on with our lives. Whatever happens in the court, well that’s a matter for the law. We have no control over that but for outside, we want to move on,” Kirwyn’s younger brother said.
Leon also said he is pleased with the swift actions taken by the Guyana Police Force regarding the investigation.
“I want to thank the Guyana Police Force. I think they did a magnificent job in dealing with this matter expeditiously in ensuring that the matter reach to the court. So hats off to them.”
According to the autopsy conducted on Wednesday, Sir Mars was stabbed eight times about his body, including 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, 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.
Police Headquarters said the 24-year-old father of three, was seen on camera arriving and leaving the Green City Bar located at the corners of D’Urban Street and Vlissengen Road with Mars at about 17:38 hrs.
