Labourer, 46, allegedly murdered by farmer 

Gary Melville, a 46-year-old labourer of Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, was allegedly murdered by a 23-year-old farmer from the same community.

The alleged murder occurred between 20:00 hrs Friday and 05:30 hrs, Saturday at Lima Sands.

Enquiries disclosed that Melville and the suspect were friends and both resided in the same area. According to a female shopkeeper at Lima Sands, at about 20:00 hrs on Friday, the suspect, along with the victim and others, went to the shop, where they imbibed alcohol. She further stated that the suspect was drinking a bottle of high wine while the victim was drinking 592 beers, and they were both seated at the same table.

She also stated that whilst in the shop, she overheard the suspect complaining that the victim burnt him with a cigarette, after which she saw the victim and the suspect in a scuffle.

The shopkeeper further stated that she saw the suspect bleeding from his head and the victim on the ground. Another female in the shop intervened and stopped the two men from fighting further. The victim then left and headed, on foot, in a northern direction.

About ten minutes later, the suspect left on his motorcycle, heading in the same direction as the victim.

At about 05:30 hrs this morning, a 48-year-old woman from the area was walking on the Lima Sands public road when she observed Melville lying on the eastern side of the road, motionless. She later raised an alarm, and the Police were summoned.

Investigators visited the scene, and the body of the deceased was observed and examined. Injuries were seen to the back of both hands, right side knee, both feet, and face.

Melville’s body was later taken to the Suddie Hospital, where it was seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced him dead on arrival. The body was further escorted to the Suddie Hospital’s Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The suspect was contacted, and injuries were seen to the left side of his hand, head, and knee. He was later arrested and taken into police custody and further escorted to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who treated him and sent him away. He went back into custody.