Block maker charged in death of ‘Tuff Head’

A 22 year old block maker of Byera has been charged in the death of another Byera resident.

Ravi Francois appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, charged with manslaughter.

Francois was charged that on January 20, 2025 he caused the death of Osborne Kenville Morris, a 49-year-old resident of Byera.

He was granted bail in the sum of $30,000 with one surety and other reporting conditions.

He is required to report to the Georgetown Police Station every Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The court also ordered that Francois surrenders his travel documents; and a stop notice has been issued at all ports of entry.

Morris died on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital after being chopped about his body.

A police release states that on January 20, 2025, Ravi Francois was arrested and charged for manslaughter. He is alleged to have used a cutlass to inflict multiple chops to Morris’s body during an incident in Byera.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Morris died as a result of multiple chop wounds about his body.

The matter has been adjourned to February 25, 2025, for the commencement of a Preliminary Inquiry.

Reports are that last Saturday January 18, around 1:00 a.m., Morris, also referred to as “Tuff Head” received multiple chops about his body, including in his head.

He was taken to seek medical attention in Georgetown, but was later transferred to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) in Kingstown where he died the following day.