Guyanese businessman Courtney Evans. Police in a statement on Tuesday said that Joel Harding was arrested on September 1, 2025. It is alleged that he killed 49-year-old Evans on August 31, 2025 at the Coomacka Mines.

Harding appeared at the Linden Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Ruschell Liverpool, where the charge was read to him. He was not required to plead to the indictable offence and was remanded to prison until October 20, 2025 for disclosure. On September 1, Kaieteur News reported that Evans along with his brother and a friend were at the Coomacka Mines Beach, hanging out and consuming alcohol.

“When they arrived at the beach, they saw four males and a female (who were unknown to them) also drinking beers. The female allegedly called Tyrone Otis Evans (brother of the deceased) a derogatory name. An argument subsequently ensued between Tyrone Evans and the female, and they chucked each other. The matter escalated into a brawl between the two groups, after which the female and her group left the scene in a white minibus,” a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said.

Evans, who received wounds to his right lower back, right-side head and left elbow, was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex and died while receiving treatment. In addition, Tyrone Otis Evans (brother of the deceased), a 47-year-old truck driver from Coomacka Mines was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex with a wound to the forehead; Joel Harding, a 28-year-old construction worker from Coomacka Mines, Linden also received wounds to his left arm and right elbow and Evan Herman, a 28-year-old from Coomacka Mines, Linden. He received two wounds to his left side head. (Kaieteur News)