Police are investigating the alleged murder of Mark Benn, a 38-year-old gold miner of Lot 218 Blueberry Hill, Linden, Region 10 which occurred at about 23:00hrs on September 11, 2025, at Big Mara Mara Backdam, Puruni River, Region 7.
Police have since arrested the suspect, Dexter Agrian, a 41-year-old excavator operator from Second Avenue, Bartica.
Investigation so far revealed that on September 11, 2025, Benn arrived at Big Mara Mara Backdam (from Puruni Landing) and went to a shop owned by Floyd Paul, a 28-year-old dredge owner. There, Benn met a 33-year-old female Venezuelan national.
The suspect, who works as an excavator operator in the Mara Mara Backdam, later visited the shop at about 19:00 hours on the said date, where he met Benn with the woman and a female Venezuelan sex worker.
The suspect purchased several Guinness for himself, Benn, and the two Venezuelan women, while they played music, drank and danced together. At about 23:00 hours, Benn asked one of the women to have sex with him, and she told him ‘no’ because he was drunk.
This annoyed Benn, who disconnected the woman’s cellphone, which was playing music at the time. The suspect then intervened and grabbed Benn around his waist, pulling him away from the shop.
Benn rebuked him, stating, “We good, but never again you hug me like that, because thief men does hold people like that.”
Without saying anything further, the suspect, who was armed with a sharp 13-inch-long knife, pulled it from his waist and dealt the deceased one chop behind his head, causing him to fall to the ground, face up. The suspect then went over Benn and dealt him another chop to his neck, almost severing it. He then walked away and went to his camp. The shop owner, Floyd Paul, later contacted the police and reported the matter.
The suspect was contacted, told of the allegation, cautioned, and he replied in his own words, “Sir, I drink couple well Guinness and I can’t remember exactly what happened.” He was arrested and is presently in Police custody.
The knife used to commit the offence was retrieved, and it was examined and found to be a double-edged knife that measures about thirteen inches. Investigations are ongoing.
