Cops grill four over murders of Better Hope moneychanger, daughter
Four persons remained in police custody last night in connection with the murders of Better Hope moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter, Arian.
The four, who were arrested yesterday morning, were being interrogated by investigators from the Major Crimes Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department, at Eve Leary up to press time.
The fatal shooting of the father and daughter occurred at their 58 Robert Street, Better Hope North, East Coast home around 3.30 pm last Thursday.
The Guyana Police Force had said that from preliminary investigations, the bandits confronted the elder Latchman as he exited his car. He had returned home just moments earlier.
It was revealed that from all indications he put up a fight and was shot during the struggle. The bandits reportedly took a bag containing money and escaped in a waiting car. Arian, neighbours said, was shot and killed in the upper flat of the home. It was her screams that alerted neighbours of the attack. Autopsies later revealed that Aaron died as a result of multiple gunshot injuries while Arian died from a single gunshot injury.
At their home yesterday, Tracey Waheeda, Aaron’s wife and Arian’s mother, told Stabroek News that she was still in disbelief.
The woman explained that with the arrest of the four persons, she has received some relief as justice might be served. She noted that the police had not contacted the family about the development and family members learnt of it via news postings on social media.
The grieving wife said to her knowledge her husband had no issues with anyone. She opined that if someone had an issue with him, they should have dealt with the matter away from his home. “My daughter didn’t live life yet and she was killed. I don’t know what happen that day but I still cannot believe they killed them. They come into the house and kill them,” she lamented.
“I wish if the person who did this can feel exactly how I am feeling… Regardless of what, my daughter didn’t deserve to die like this,” the distraught added.
A resident told this newspaper on Friday that he was returning home and saw two men running along the Better Hope Community Centre Ground street.
The man explained that he initially thought they were in a fight but he later learnt they were a part of the fatal attack. He said that he saw the men then jumping into a white car, which was parked on the main road at the head of the Community Centre Ground street.
Based on his account, money fell as the men ran and a woman who was selling pastries picked up the cash. The woman was taken into custody. She has since been released on bail.