Suspect confesses to stabbing shopkeeper during argument

Fabian Smith, the suspect who was arrested in relation to the murder of a 55-year-old shopkeeper, has confessed to committing the crime during an argument.

Police Headquarters said that about 15:20hrs Wednesday, detectives conducted a video interview with Smith at the Bartica Police Station when he confessed to stabbing Andrew Harris.

Harris also called ‘Short Man’, was allegedly murdered sometime between Monday and Tuesday at ‘Mer Meria’ Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River.

Police investigations revealed that Harris and the suspect were working together on a newly-constructed shop owned by a 52-year-old businesswoman of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, for the past 10 days.

According to the businesswoman, at about 10:00hrs on Tuesday, she received a phone call from the Smith who told her he found Harris dead at the shop.

The matter was subsequently reported to the Police and ranks visited the area. There, they found the body of Harris in a slouched position on a bench, with what appeared to be blood on his jersey and on the ground where he sat.

Detectives examined the body and observed a stab wound, about three inches in width, to his upper left chest.

Smith was subsequently arrested at a nearby camp and taken into custody. He is likely to be charged soon.