"Coconut man" gets bail over murder of Better Hope Engineer
Stherlinga Gilkes, also known as "Coconut man" or "Hurby," was on Wednesday released on $500,000 bail over the killing of Better Hope Engineer Neil Rampersaud.
Gilkes, 40, of Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was hauled before Rushelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court and was charged with manslaughter.
The charge states that on May 29, 2022, in the vicinity of Zahora Street, Better Hope, ECD, he unlawfully killed Rampersaud.
Reports are that at around 6:35h, Gilkes wounded another man by the name of Mohan Panchu.
As a result, Rampersaud, who resides nearby to where the incident occurred, approached Gilkes and informed him that he had to go to the police station for wounding Panchu.
This led to a misunderstanding, and Rampersaud dealt the suspect two lashes about his body. The accused, who was armed with a 'coconut blade,' stabbed him in the upper left-side rib area.
The 31-year-old Engineer was escorted to the Woodlands Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.
After listening to the facts of the matter, released the accused on $500,000 bail and adjourned the matter to July 8, 2022.
