Businessman hammers customer to death during argument at Bartica game shop

A 34-year-old businessman of 2nd Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven is in police custody as investigations are ongoing into a deadly altercation Wednesday night.

Mark Braithwaite, a 40-year-old of Four Miles Housing Scheme, Bartica died at the hands of the businessman.

He used a hammer to beat Braithwaite, killing him in the process.

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, the suspect’s father, a 63-year-old man, owns and operates a Blast Gaming Center at 2^nd Avenue.

At about 19:45hrs, he left his son in charge of the gaming centre while Braithwaite, a regular customer, was playing at one of the slot machines.

Moments later, this businessman and Braithwaite had a misunderstanding over alcohol spilling on the countertop.

An annoyed Braithwaite armed himself with several glass bottles and began hurling them at the businessman who was in the bar behind a counter.

In turn, the businessman armed himself with a hammer and chased after Braithwaite; he dealt him blows to his head and face.

Braithwaite fell to the ground and remained motionless, police said. He was taken to the Bartica Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The body was examined and blunt wounds were observed to the right jaw area, above the right eye and to the forehead. The body is at the Bartica Hospital’s Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The suspect was arrested and is presently in custody.