Lawyer’s housemate critical in hospital; now prime suspect in his murder

As police investigators continue to probe the death of attorney Richard Layne, his close associate who is now the prime suspect in the murder, Tony Sulker, is currently hospitalized in critical condition after allegedly consuming potent herbicide.

According to police reports, Sulker was living with Layne at the time of his death. On August 8, Sulker provided a detailed account to detectives regarding the events leading up to Layne’s demise.

Sulker, who had been residing with Layne for approximately four years, claimed their relationship was platonic. He stated that on the evening of August 7, Layne’s cousin, Michael Harding, visited the residence before leaving with Layne. Sulker said he went to bed around 20:00 hrs but awoke later to find Layne’s car on a nearby bridge and the attorney slumped in the driver’s seat.

Sulker told detectives that he called Layne’s mother, Penelope Lewis, and picked her up from a local bar. Upon their return, they found Layne’s car doors locked. Following Lewis’ instructions, Sulker broke the driver’s side window to discover Layne with an apparent neck wound. An autopsy has since determined that Layne died from a single stab wound to the neck.

However, new developments emerged from the investigation on Friday. Detectives reviewing CCTV footage from Sheriff Street made new findings. At approximately 21:31 hrs, a vehicle matching Layne’s burgundy Jaguar, license plate PYY 2850, was seen stopping near Kamboat Chinese Restaurant.

The footage captured an individual, believed to be Sulker, exiting the car and entering the restaurant before returning with a white plastic bag.

Further footage shows the Jaguar continuing its route, turning onto John Street and Mandela Avenue, before ultimately heading towards D’Urban Backlands.

The clothing Sulker wore that night, as seen in the CCTV footage, was found washed and dried in the house’s washing machine. Other clothing items were collected for forensic analysis.

However, At around 01:00 hrs on August 9, Lewis reported witnessing Sulker’s car arriving rapidly at Layne’s residence, where she discovered Sulker lying near the door in a distressed state. Sulker, covered in what appeared to be vomit and a green substance, was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). His condition remains critical.

Additionally, Sulker’s vehicle, an Allion with registration PAC 7428, was found at the scene with two bottles of a potent herbicide. The investigation is ongoing, with Sulker’s DNA samples collected and sent for further examination. Authorities are working to piece together the full extent of the events leading up to Layne’s death and Sulker’s hospitalization.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Moments after this story was published we learned that Tony Sulker was pronounced dead by Dr Kissoon at the GPHC at around 21:15 hrs on Friday.