Highway Murder: Five suspects now in custody, knife recovered

Investigators proving the murder of chain saw operator Davanan Hosea have arrested the four other suspects in relation to the crime.

They suspects in custody are: Kevin Grandstuart, 24; Rodwell Fraser,21, both of Victory Valley road, Timehri; Dwayne Bascom, 25, of Kara Kara Linden and a 16-year-old who hails from Timehri.

Police Headquarters confirmed that the men were arrested during an intelligence-led operation after CCTV footage was reviewed.

Grandstuart was allegedly found in possession of a black ‘Rambo’ knife while the teenager had the dead man’s cell phone in his possession at the time of his arrest.

This now brings the total number of suspects in custody to five. Police had initially reported that the fifth suspect, a 25-year-old salesman is also in custody.

Forty-year-old Hosea of Hillfoot squatting area along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway was murdered early Sunday, November 17th, at approximately 1:35 hrs after he was attacked by several men.

Police reported that investigations revealed Hosea had been performing his  daily duties in the back dam at Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), prior to the incident.

Hosea’s brother, 36-year-old Levon Hosea, who also works as a chainsaw operator, provided details of the events leading up to his brother’s death.

Levon explained that on the afternoon of November 16, the brothers had worked together in the back dam before leaving for a local Chinese restaurant, where Davanan met with his reputed wife. After spending time at the restaurant and having a few drinks, Levon left his brother with his wife and returned home.

Later that evening, around 21:00 hrs, Davanan called Levon, asking him to meet at the Raghoo Sports Bar along the Soesdyke Public Road.

The brothers purchased more drinks at the bar, where Davanan reportedly told his brother that a group of men had been eyeing him. Moments later, the men approached Davanan, seized his valuables, and a confrontation broke out between Levon and the suspects.

The situation escalated, leading to a violent altercation, and the brothers fled through Shawnie Gas Station, located nearby. The perpetrators pursued them, and during the chase, Davanan was caught and engaged in a scuffle with the attackers. Levon, realising the danger, urged his brother to run east along the track, while he took a different route.

Levon later found his brother collapsed on the Hillfoot Soesdyke/Linden Highway, with several stab wounds about his body.

The body of Davanan Hosea was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by medical staff. The body was later transferred to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.