‘Sir Mars’ murder accused committed to stand trial

Brian Richards was on Friday committed to stand trial for the murder of popular entertainer and educator Kirwyn Mars at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes by Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/Grove Magistrate Court.

Mars was murdered May 7, 2023 at Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Twenty-four-year-old Brian Richard, a resident of the John Fernandes Squatting had confessed to killing of Kirwyn Mars, popularly known as ‘Sir Mars’.

Mars’s body was found pinned between his car and the fence of an apartment building at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara on May 7. An autopsy revealed that he was stabbed eight times, including to his chest, right shoulder, collarbone, left hand and right elbow, and has given the cause of his death as crush injuries to the chest, compounded by “multiple cutaneous wounds.”

It has been reported that, two days after committing the crime, Richard was arrested at his place of employment. He has since allegedly confessed to the murder.

In his alleged confession, he detailed that, on the day in question, he and Mars arrived at the Green City Bar in Georgetown, where they consumed about two cases of beer altogether before departing the bar to travel to Diamond via the Mandela/ Eccles Highway. But on their way to that location, a misunderstanding arose between them and a scuffle ensued.

The suspect related that, during the argument, he picked up a bottle and struck Mars in the head, but in retaliation, Mars collected a knife that was in the car and attacked him. The suspect alleges that he managed to relieve Mars of the knife, and in turn stabbed Mars several times.

The suspect told investigators that after receiving the stab wounds, Mars brought the car to a stop at a location in Providence, on the East Bank of Demerara, then exited from the driver’s seat and walked to the back of the vehicle.

Richards said that while he was trying to retrieve his phone, which had fallen in the car during the scuffle, his hand touched the lever and accidentally put the car in reverse, ultimately crushing Mars. After realising what had happened, he said, he panicked and fled the scene.