Manslaughter charge for suspect who stabbed shopkeeper during argument

Fabian Smith, the 34-year-old man who is accused of stabbing a 55-year-old shopkeeper to death during an argument was on Monday remanded to prison after he was charged with manslaughter.

Smith appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

He was not required to plead to the charge and was remanded to prison.

The case was adjourned to August 25.

Andrew Harris also called ‘Short Man’, was allegedly murdered sometime between July 31 and August 01 at ‘Mer Meria’ Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River.

Smith was subsequently arrested at a nearby camp and taken into custody.

Police Headquarters reported that on August 2, detectives conducted a video interview with Smith at the Bartica Police Station when he confessed to stabbing Harris.

Police investigations revealed that Harris and Smith 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.