Police still hunting murderous Cane Cutter; Wife remains hospitalized

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Police are still hunting the man who killed three persons including a nine year old girl and severely chopped his wife on Thursday last.

Speaking to iNews this morning, Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Ian Amsterdaam said investigators have strong reasons to believe the man is still hiding in the Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo community.

Amsterdam said while the possibility exists that Joshua Franklin who reportedly hacked the trio to death during a jealous rage could have skipped the country; none of the leads have suggested such.

He assured that police have not given up and will do all they possibly can to ensure the man is brought to justice.

Dead are: Bibi Zalima Khan, 55 years; her granddaughter Ashley Boodhoo, 9 years; and upholsterer Floyd Drakes, 30 years, all of Tuschen New Housing Scheme.

Thirty – year – old Boodhoo is in a critical condition after she managed to escape to a neighbour’s house when her reputed husband, Joshua Franklin broke into her Phase Two, Tuschen wooden house and proceeded to chop her mother [Bibi], his stepdaughter [Ashley] and Drakes, whom she allegedly shared an intimate relationship with.

The incident reportedly occurred at 12:30; however, residents told iNews that Drakes’ body was found several hours after the incident behind a toilet in the yard. Boodhoo’s other children, who were in the house at the time managed to escape and were found by a Police Patrol, walking in the community.

The mother of six was on Friday in dire need of ‘O’ Positive blood at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The GPHC in a media release stated that the woman is in need of two units of blood and donors may make contributions to the Blood Bank, GPHC Compound on Lamaha Street.

Efforts to secure an update on the woman’s condition from hospital officials proved futile.