Lawyer’s Murder: Friend, cousin detained for questioning but later released

Investigators detained the friend and cousin of 35-year-old lawyer, Richard Layne for questioning in relation to the murder which occurred at D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown on Wednesday night.

Police on Friday confirmed that Layne’s friend, Tony Sulker, a 29-year-old Police Sergeant, and Layne’s cousin, Michael Harding were grilled about the crime.

Both men were released on Thursday night. The investigation continues but no one is currently in Police custody.

Sulker lived with Layne while Harding was the last person he was reportedly with before he was later found dead.

THE CRIME

Layne was found dead in his car outside his Century Palm Gardens, D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown on Wednesday night.

Harding told Police he visited Layne’s at his house around 19:00 hrs. At that time, Harding said, Sulker was home.

While the cousins were hanging together, Harding said Layne wanted Starbucks coffee. As a result, they both left in Harding’s motor car, PHH 4943, for Starbucks at MovieTowne, Georgetown.

After purchasing the coffee, the cousins returned to Layne’s home at about 19:15 hrs. At that time, Sulker reportedly was asleep in his room on the upper flat of the house.

Harding then recounted that he and Layne were hanging out on the veranda until about 20:17 hrs. At that time, Harding returned to his Eccles residence.

Harding claimed he made sure that Layne locked both gates to the house and yard before he left for Eccles. He also said he observed Layne’s car, a Jaguar with number plate PYY 2850, parked in the garage.

Police then reported that Sulker said he got up at about 22:00 hrs and went to use the washroom and then went into the kitchen.

While in the kitchen, he reportedly looked through a window and saw Layne’s car parked on the bridge of the premises. Layne was sitting in the driver seat in a “slumped position” and was motionless.

Sulker said he immediately ran outside and attempted to open the car doors but they were all locked. He then called Layne’s mother, who lives in Campbellville, and on her arrival, they both tried opening the car doors but were unsuccessful.

Sulker said Layne’s mother then instructed him to break the driver-side door glass, which he did using a hammer. They then observed that Layne appeared to be bleeding from a wound to his neck. As a result, they called an ambulance and also contacted the police.

The ambulance service responded and Layne was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital.