A 23-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a 15-year-old boy who died during a recreational outing at the Hot and Cold Lake, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Easter Monday.
Shemar Smith, also known as “Short Man,” of Adventure, Essequibo Coast, appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where the charge was read to him. He was granted bail in the sum of $750,000 and the matter was adjourned to April 30.
The charge relates to the death of Arif Azeez, who visited the lake around midday on Easter Monday with four friends. Azeez was riding a red-and-white Jet Ski while another friend operated a blue Jet Ski. According to a friend’s account to police, Azeez’s Jet Ski began running low on fuel, and he told the others to continue while he managed the remaining supply.
At around 16:00h, the friend said he observed Azeez maneuvering in a zigzag pattern before falling headfirst into the water. Attempts to locate him were unsuccessful, and his body was recovered from the lake the following day.
The body bore multiple injuries, including a broken foot and head trauma, prompting relatives to suspect foul play. A postmortem examination confirmed that Azeez died from drowning compounded by multiple injuries.
What was initially treated as a straightforward drowning took a significant turn following the autopsy results, which led investigators to believe a collision between the two Jet Skis caused the teen to fall overboard. That line of inquiry ultimately resulted in the manslaughter charge being brought against Smith.
