Ex-GDF Captain admits to shooting wife to death

Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain, Orwain Sandy has confessed to shooting his reputed wife, Reona Payne to death on March 31, 2018, in Alexander Village, Georgetown.

Sandy, 38, appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon via a Zoom hearing for the capital offence of murder but opted to plea to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The State was represented by Prosecutor Lisa Cave while Sandy was represented by Attorney-at-law Ravindra Mohabir.

Sentencing was deferred until August 4 pending a probation report.

News Room had reported that on the day in question, Sandy and Payne were observed by residents arguing in his car when Payne took his service revolver and threw it out of the car after which she exited the vehicle.

Sandy exited the car, picked up the gun and shot at a fleeing Payne. After she fell to the ground, it is alleged that he stood over her and emptied the gun into her body.

Sandy then drove himself to the Ruimveldt Police Station where he surrendered and handed over the murder weapon.

A post-mortem report revealed that Payne, a mother of three from a previous marriage, was shot approximately 14 times – 13 times to the chest and once to the head.

Although both Sandy and Payne were married to other people, they were living together for about five years at the Captain’s Providence, East Bank Demerara home.

Following the incident, the GDF immediately interdicted Sandy and launched a Board of Inquiry.