PARAMARIBO – A witness recently appeared in court to testify against a soldier who is on trial for manslaughter. He told the court that he witnessed Richienne hitting the victim on the head twice. “He hit the shoplifter,” said the witness who works as a security guard. On September 23rd, 2022 a passersby told him that a shoplifter was caught in a store so he went to take a look. The victim was caught red-handed while trying to steal cheese. The retailer and one of his workers managed to overpower the shoplifter. The shoplifter  fell on a shelf when the worker grabbed one of his legs. The retailer detained the shoplifter in a storage room for several hours while waiting for the police to arrive. The witness then left the store but after several hours he witnessed the retailer putting the shoplifter outside when it was time to close the store. The defendant who was at a carwash located nearby approached the shoplifter and hit him on the head with an object. The shoplifter was then taken to the carwash where watered was poured on his head. Defense Attorney Murwin Dubois who requested the release of his client pointed out that the victim was assaulted in the store. He made it clear that the beating outside of the store did not result in the death of the victim. The attorney assured the court that his client was not a flight risk. The Public Prosecutor’s Office objected to the request for the release of the defendant and reminded the court that a witness had seen the defendant hitting the victim. The defendant is scheduled to return to court in July…[+]