West Coast Berbice labourer found dead in trench with chop wounds

The police in Region Five are investigating the murder of a West Coast Berbice (WCB) labourer whose body was discovered with multiple chop wounds yesterday in the backlands.

Dead is Odit Persaud Thom, a 45-year-old labourer of Number 5 Village, WCB.

The incident is suspected to have happened between 8 am on March 2nd and 12:30 pm on March 4th, 2024 at No. 41 backlands, West Coast Berbice.

According to information gathered, the deceased took care of cattle in the backdam for several persons and was staying at a camp located at Seafield Backdam, WCB, where the animals are kept.

However, the cattle under his care were impounded at Weldaad Police Station on March 3rd, 2024 by a rice farmer from Foulis, WCB.

After being informed of this, the owners of the cattle then launched a search for Thom and yesterday found his motionless body floating in a trench at No. 41 backdam which separates

Odit Persaud Thom the rice fields from the savannah.

According to the police, the body was found in a state of decomposition. It was observed that the deceased sustained chop wounds to both arms and the head.

The deceased also had a haversack on his back which contained toiletries and his ID card.

The body was clad in a black jeans and black jersey. The surrounding area was searched and a pair of Adidas slippers and a black cap were found on the dam in the vicinity where the body was floating, police said yesterday.

Persaud’s body is presently at Bailey Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy while an investigation has been launched.