reportedly belonging to the slain man
| Police have detained four people in connection with the suspected vigilante-style killing of ex-convict Rickford Barker, whose battered body was found in a Soesdyke cemetery on Saturday.Dead: Rickford BarkerKaieteur News understands that the persons in custody are all from the area where the killing occurred.Barker’s semi-nude body was found, at around 06:00 hrs, in the cemetery located near the Soesdyke main road.Police said that the back of his head bore a gaping wound, while there were several abrasions on his back.One source suggested that Barker may have been beaten with a fan-belt.A pair of blue jeans and a pair of black sneakers, reportedly belonging to the slain man, were found a short distance from the body.Police have received reports that Barker was the victim of a vigilante-style beating by persons who suspected that he had broken into a shop in the area. He was released about a week ago from prison.Barker had resided with his mother and other relatives at Hyde Park, Timehri.A sister of the dead man said that Barker left home on Saturday night. They did not see him again until his body was discovered in the cemetery. According to the relative, police found 29 sweets in one of Barker’s pockets. They believe that the sweets were part of the man’s ill-gotten gains from a burglary.According to one report, the ex-convict and an accomplice had broken into a shop in the Soesdyke area.The two men reportedly had then gone for a ‘smoke’ when they were apprehended by a group of men.According to this report, the men released Barker’s accomplice, but exacted vigilante justice on the ex-convict. |
