Oswain Lawson, a 42-year-old taxi driver, died in East Bank Berbice on Tuesday after an incident that police have now reclassified as an alleged murder, following the discovery of suspected stab wounds on his body.
Lawson of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, was initially believed to have died after his vehicle plunged into a trench along the Edinburgh Public Road around 01:30 hrs.
Police in Regional Division Six said preliminary investigations indicate Lawson had been at a social gathering at a shop on the Edinburgh Public Road when an argument allegedly broke out between him and a 21-year-old man. The dispute reportedly escalated, during which he was allegedly attacked.
Investigators said Lawson later drove away from the scene in motor car HD 8644, before the vehicle went off the road and ended up in a trench. He was pulled from the submerged vehicle in an unconscious state by members of the public and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The matter was initially treated as a fatal traffic incident. However, police said a subsequent examination of the body revealed several suspected stab wounds to the upper body.
Following further enquiries, police arrested a 21-year-old contractor from Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice, who is currently in custody assisting with investigations.
The body has been taken to Arokium Funeral Home, pending a post-mortem examination.
Investigations are ongoing.
