The suspect in the murder of Tassarene Toshao, Ridley Joseph, has been arrested and is in Police custody. He was held this morning after surrendering to Police at the Brickdam Police Station. He has been identified as Noah Beaton of Bent Street in Georgetown.

Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police Wendell Blanhum confirmed the arrest to News Source. News Source understands that the suspect turned up at the Police station and informed the ranks that he is the man who is responsible for the murder of the 37-year-old Toshao in his room at the Signature Inn Hotel.

He was promptly arrested by the Police and investigators looking into the murder case were contacted and have been questioning the man since his arrest.

Crime Chief Blanhum said the suspect has confessed to the crime. He is expected to appear in Court within days as the investigators prepare to wrap up their probe.

Police investigators have been retrieving surveillance video recordings of the suspect leaving the hotel in Queenstown and video recordings from nearby businesses have also been retrieved. Those recordings also captured the suspect moments after he left the hotel early yesterday morning.

The murder of the indigenous leader who was in Georgetown for a meeting of the National Toshao Council has shocked the nation. He was stabbed 19 times to the body in his hotel room.

According to a Police statement, Toshao Joseph initially arrived at the hotel and got checked-in at around 6:23pm on Sunday.

Moments after, he was seen leaving his room and the hotel premises.

The Police said at around 12:50 on Monday morning, the Toshao returned to the hotel in the company of a man, who has now been identified as Noel Beaton.

The two men were captured on surveillance camera entering the hotel room, but only the suspect emerged from the room just over an hour later.

The Police said the suspect left the hotel premises, and walked in a western direction on Laluni Street, and then turned South onto Albert Street in Alberttown.

At the hotel, investigators said they observed blood stains on the walkway leading to the room where the Toshao was staying, and they also observed a hole in the door of the room that was likely caused by a sharp object.

The Police said Toshao Joseph was found lying on his abdomen in a pool of blood.

He was fully clothed.

Detectives said they also observed blood splattered on the walls and ceiling of the room and behind the door.

As News Source first reported, the body was found with 19 stab wounds to the face, neck, chest and back. Other guests of the hotel reported hearing screams for help, but stayed in their rooms as they were fearful. The lifeless body of Toshao Joseph was discovered by a hotel staffer hours after the screams for help were heard.

Police investigators are hoping that a motive for the murder will be revealed now that the suspect is in custody.

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