A dispute over money ended in a bloodbath in Cité Mangalkhan, Floréal on the afternoon of Sunday March 17. The victim, Damien Latire, 21, succumbed to his injuries at the Victoria de Candos hospital at around 1pm on Monday March 18. His alleged assailant, Kensley Stewart Assaun, also known as Lion Vibe, is a 21-year-old singer from the same locality. The suspect is known for his songs, Ale Serce Repenti, Lavenir Parfait and Lafors Mama, among others. The charge of premeditated assault brought against the suspect on Monday morning will be changed to murder this Tuesday morning, March 19.
In the early hours of Monday morning, March 18, the victim’s father, 51-year-old Jean Bruno Java, made a statement at the Floréal police station about the circumstances surrounding his son’s attack. He said that on the afternoon of Sunday March 17 at around 2.30pm, he received a phone call from his son, who informed him that he had had an argument with Kensley Assaun over money. At around 6 p.m. that same day, he learned that his son had had a fight with the same Kensley Assaun at his home.
Jean Bruno Java went to the address. He saw that his son Damien, injured and bleeding, had been taken to Candos hospital. After receiving treatment, he learned that his son had to undergo surgery and was being kept under observation in critical condition.
Kensley Assaun, arrested by police officers from Floréal police station, was taken into custody at Midlands police station. This Monday morning, March 18, he was brought before the Curepipe Magistrates’ Court on a provisional charge of assault with intent. He is due to appear before the same court on Tuesday, March 19, on a new provisional charge of murder.
Damien Latire’s body was transferred to the Candos hospital morgue on the afternoon of Monday March 18 for an autopsy. Dr. Maxwell Monvoisin, Principal Police Medical Officer, attributed the cause of death to stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Curepipe took over the investigation. Under the supervision of Assistant Police Commissioner Soondereine Veeramalay, the Central Divisional Commander, the CID’s aim is to shed light on the motive and circumstances of this fatal attack.
