A 21-year-old contractor was on Friday remanded to prison after appearing on a manslaughter charge linked to the death of a taxi driver following an altercation in Berbice, Guyana.
Frank McAllister of Heatburn Village, East Bank Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court charged in connection with the death of 42-year-old taxi driver Oswain Lawson of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam.
Police prosecutor Corporal Sherry Williams told the court the investigation remains incomplete and opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and allegations that a knife was used in the incident.
McAllister’s attorney, Chandra Sohan, argued that his client was not a flight risk, had no prior court appearances, and was willing to comply with any conditions imposed by the court. Sohan also noted that manslaughter is a bailable offence.
Magistrate Matthias denied bail and remanded McAllister to prison. The matter was adjourned to June 4 at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
According to police, Lawson was attending a social gathering at a shop along the Edinburgh Public Road, East Bank Berbice, when an argument allegedly broke out between him and McAllister.
Investigators said the confrontation escalated and Lawson was allegedly attacked before leaving the scene in his vehicle, motor car HD 8644. The vehicle later plunged into a trench at Edinburgh.
Residents reportedly pulled Lawson from the vehicle unconscious and took him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The incident was initially treated as a fatal traffic accident. However, police said suspected stab wounds were later discovered on Lawson’s upper body during an examination.
Police subsequently revisited the scene, arrested McAllister based on information received, and took him into custody.
A post-mortem examination conducted on May 13 by government pathologist Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan determined the cause of death to be multiple incised stab wounds resulting in hemorrhage and collapsed lungs.
Lawson’s body was later handed over to relatives for burial.
