Police have held two men in connection with the murder of Sharon Kunick, whose half-naked body was found just off the Stewartville foreshore, West Coast Demerara, on Wednesday morning. This newspaper understands that men, who were known to the dead woman and her relatives, were arrested yesterday and placed in the Leonora Police Station lock-ups.

One man, who relatives believe Kunick was going to meet on Tuesday night, turned himself into the law enforcement authorities yesterday morning. The other man was held just after he gave a statement to the police yesterday morning.

The 30-year-old mother of two was discovered around 9.30 am just off the foreshore with her hands bound at the wrists with duct tape and marks of violence on her head and neck. When the Lot 55 De Kinderen, New Housing Scheme, WCD resident was found she was clad only in a black bra and a red vest but most of her chest was exposed. There was a gaping wound on her forehead.

No one in the area where the body was found reported hearing any unusual sounds during the night and it is suspected that the woman was killed elsewhere and her body dumped in the ocean. It appears that the body got caught in a groyne at the Stewartville foreshore. Kunick was last seen alive just after 7 pm on Tuesday when she stopped at a roadside vendor not far from her home. (Stabroek News)

Two teenagers yesterday appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle in the Georgetown Magistrate's Court on separate counts of attempting to commit murder. They were both remanded to prison after being told that they were not required to plead to the indictable charge.

First up was a 16-year-old Charles-town resident who is accused of lashing a 14-year-old boy in his head last Friday. Attorney-at-law Basil Williams represented the minor yesterday and made a lengthy application for bail. Williams said that his client lives with his parents and is a trainee spray painter.

He told the court that the boy has never been in trouble with the law before and stressed that it was unfair that the other party was not charged. "When the bully ends up with the worst injuries the other party gets the blame," he added.

According to the counsel, his client was chased by the virtual complainant who had a knife. He showed the court a cut on his client's hand that he said was caused by the knife that the complainant had. Williams further submitted that his client had to defend himself by pelting a stick. "He was peacefully going about his business. They always troubling him whenever he leaves his parents' home," Williams added.

Police prosecutor Sherwin Matthews objected to bail, adding that the parties had an argument. He said that the accused picked up a piece of wood and dealt the complainant a lash to his head. Matthews informed the court that the injured teen was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state. He added that the boy is still unconscious in hospital.

Williams in response said that the court will unnecessarily be placing a minor in jail and by doing this will cause the jail to be unnecessarily filled. He added that his client is before the court on a bailable offence and his mother would undertake to see that he returns to court.

"The prison is already overcrowded. Why would you want to put a 16-year-old who didn't have a knife or a gun or anything and who was merely trying to defend himself in jail?," Williams argued. After listening to both sides, the magistrate refused the accused bail.

Stabroek News was informed that the complainant is no longer in the High Dependency Unit and he has been transferred to the open ward but his entire right side is paralyzed. He was on his way to school on the day in question when he was attacked. The matter continues on Friday in Court Six.

Meanwhile 18-year-old Joel Minnis called Joel Taylor of 248 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, is accused of attempting to murder 14-year-old Shemroy Victor last Friday.

The prosecution's case is that the two had a previous misunderstanding and on the day in question around 8.30 pm, the virtual complainant was on Freeman Street when Minnis was under the influence of alcohol and an argument developed. Minnis reportedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a sharp instrument and dealt the virtual complainant stabs to the head and back.

Minnis however told the court yesterday that he was merely trying to defend himself. He said that the complainant attacked him with his hands. He told the court that he had a knife since he could not protect himself with just his hands against the complainant since he is a `big breed'. He told the court that he is a machine operator. He will return to Court Three on October 18. (Stabroek News)

Mrs. Winnie Messiger told this newspapers Sunday that her 42-year-old son Winston Messiger was outside a shop on Burnham Drive Wismar Friday afternoon, when he reportedly told a young lady who was passing that she looked beautiful. He was then reportedly told by the shopkeeper not to say such things to passers-by in his presence.

The mother said from all reports the man, who is now in police custody, struck her son with a piece of wood hitting him behind the head causing him to fall to the ground. Her other son rushed the wounded man to the Mackenzie Hospital, while the shopkeeper was taken into police custody.

Messiger died at the hospital without regaining consciousness. Messiger met his death while he was backing the shop owner who struck him with the piece of wood. Winnie Messiger said her son was a farmer and had only returned to the area about six weeks. He was residing in Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara. The deceased was said to be a jovial person. A post mortem was scheduled to be performed Monday. (Joe Chapman/Guyana Cronicle)

United States law enforcement authorities believe they have smashed a drug organization, involving workers at the JFK Airport in New York and with Guyana and Trinidad connections, who facilitated the shipment of cocaine from Georgetown and Port of Spain.

Five airport workers are currently before a New York court. Three have been released on bail while the other two, who appeared to be the masterminds, are behind bars awaiting trial. The workers, some of whom are believed to be Guyanese-born US citizens were all charged last Wednesday with conspiracy to import cocaine into the US.

Based upon the evidence revealed in a US complaint the workers appeared to have had excellent contacts with dealers in Guyana and Trinidad who they assisted in shipping large quantities of cocaine through the airport. The August 1 interception of 35 kilogrammes of cocaine originating from Guyana on a Travelspan flight pointed to the drug ring.

Charged are Glenroy Phillips and Mickey Phillip, both of whom worked for Aircraft Services Internation-al Group, a company that provides various maintenance and custodial services to different airlines. Based on their employment the two men were allowed access to international flights and restricted areas of JFK Airport. The others, who worked directly with the airport in various areas, are: Paulette Drysdale, Baron Clarke also known as "Ryan" and Shawn James.

In an affidavit of complaint Anthony Salisbury a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security, Immi-gration and Customs said that in or about and between June and September 2007 both dates being approximate and inclusive, in the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, Phillips, Phillip, Drysdale, Clarke and James together with others, did knowingly and intentionally conspire to import a controlled substance into the US from a place outside thereof, which offence involved five kilogrammes or more of a substance containing cocaine.

According to the complaint, two confidential sources of information were employed by law enforcement agents. The sources were provided with recordings devices, but owing to the unexpected nature of several of the meetings they had with the defendants, some of the conversations were not recorded.

Salisbury said in his affidavit that there was a probable cause that the defendants were involved in the smuggling of narcotics, including cocaine into the US from abroad. He said his investigation was aimed at dismantling an internal conspiracy between employees at the JFK Airport, Queens New York assisting with the importation of narcotics into the US from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

According to agent, based on his training and experience and discussions with other law enforcement officers, he knew these types of conspiracies were particularly effective in the smuggling of contraband into the US. According to him, oftentimes the involved airport employees, such as baggage handlers and maintenance persons, have virtually unfettered and unsupervised access to arriving international flights prior to their routine inspection by federal authorities. As such, these individuals were able to surreptitiously unload illegal merchandise, such as narcotics from an arriving aircraft and transport it to another location for pick-up.

Salisbury said while there were measures used to observe their movements such as closed circuit cameras, the employees were often familiar with such measures and able to tailor their criminal activities to avoid observation. He said that because they were so effective, these types of conspiracies were often entrusted with multi-kilogramme quantities of narcotics, much larger than that typically attempted to be smuggled by a single narcotics courier.

He said the investigation fingered Phillips and Phillip as the directors of the narcotics organization, which comprised corrupt airport employees who divert luggage containing large amounts of narcotics, including cocaine off international flights. Salisbury said these employees also include Clarke, Drysdale and James.

Giving a background to the case, Salisbury said that in or around 2005 Mickey Phillip was brought to the attention of law enforcement after he spoke with one of the two confidential sources and offered his assistance in importing narcotics into the US. Phillip, according to Salisbury, explained to the source that he could have drug-laden luggage diverted off certain international flights. That way, he said, the bags would avoid detection and interdiction by law enforcement and be safely smuggled into the US for delivery elsewhere.

Later in or around June this year, the source advised Phillip that a narcotics trafficker with whom the source worked was interested in using Phillip's services. During several subsequent conversations, Phillip and the source discussed scheduling a meeting. In one such conversation, which was recorded with the consent of the source, Phillip expressed his concern over the intended meeting for fear that the individual was a police officer. Specifically Phillip asked the source, "How long you know this man? Are you sure the man is not a policeman?" Salisbury said in his affidavit.

He said after the source allayed his concerns, Phillip had additional meetings with the source over the intended meeting with the source's drug connection. During one such conversation on or about June 19, 2007, Glenroy Phillips was present, but did not speak.

The men had several other meetings one on June 19, where Glenroy Phillips advised one of the law enforcement sources that he and others were able to remove two bags once a week from international flights, preferably from Guyana. Phillips and the source then negotiated the price for Phillips's service, which was ultimately agreed upon to be US$5,000 per bag.

Phillips also advised the source that weight was not a restriction and that they were able to move as much drugs as could be placed in the bags.

Salisbury said on July 25, 2007 US District Judge Dora Irizarry of the Eastern District of New York granted the government's application to intercept the wire communications occurring over the cellular telephone used by Glenroy Phillips. Salisbury said the interceptions commenced on or about July 26 this year and continued.

The affidavit said that over the span of several meetings and telephone conversations Phillips negotiated and discussed with one of the sources the details of exactly how the intended importation of drugs would take place. And after agreeing on the details, on or about July 27 law enforcement, trying to trap Phillips, placed a bag containing sham cocaine onto a Travelspan flight from Trinidad that was due to arrive at JFK Airport in the early morning the next day. The flight and the baggage information were then provided by one of the sources to Phillips with the request that he remove the bag on its arrival in the US.

Monitoring Phillips's telephone, agents intercepted several telephone conversations between him and two other airport employees - Drysdale and Clarke who was referred to as 'Ryan' in preparation for the flights. When the flight did arrive, the men missed it because they were not very good friends of supervisor on duty. The 'sham cocaine bag' was eventually intercepted by law enforcement authorities.

Following the loss of the first attempted importation, at the instruction of law enforcement, Salisbury said, on July 31, one of the confidential sources inquired from Glenroy Phillips whether he could remove bags from Primaris, another airline servicing Trinidad and Guyana. The source asked Phillips to call his 'people' and see if they could do the Primaris flight that arrived around 2.30 am.

Thereafter at approximately 5.47 pm, Phillips called an unknown male individual, referred to as 'Shawn'. In that call Phillips asked Shawn, "Do you know about a flight that comes in Monday morning time about 2:30 or 3:00?" Shawn explained, according to Salisbury, that he was familiar with the flight, but that he wasn't working that night. When asked by Phillips if he could come in that night, Shawn explained that he would try. The men continued to discuss ways in which they could secure the imported drugs.

Further, Salisbury's affidavit said that on August 1, law enforcement conducted an inspection of an arriving Travelspan Airline flight at JFK Airport from Georgetown, Guyana. This flight, Salisbury said, was of interest to law enforcement conducting the investigation because Phillips had explained to one of the sources that this was a flight from which he could remove bags.

Salisbury said an inspection of luggage being unloaded from the flight led to the recovery of approximately 35 kilogrammes of cocaine inside the bag of a passenger on the flight. It was a Guyanese man, Gavin Waaldijk of Linden who is now in custody in the US. The 35 kilos of cocaine were contained in brick-shaped objects in his suitcase. He had boarded Travelspan airline Flight Number 053 on Emancipation Day and was intercepted at the JFK Airport by officers using a narcotics detecting dog.

Salisbury said in his affidavit that later that day following the seizure one of the confidential sources contacted Phillips to discuss the use of Primaris. Salisbury said this conversation was tapped into and Phillips was heard saying during the conversation:

"There was drama this morning" referring to the recovery of the drug-laden suitcase by law enforcement. Salisbury said while Phillips claimed he had nothing to do with it, he said Mickey Phillip had a "small thing to do with that". Salisbury outlined that Mickey Phillip's involvement was later confirmed in another conversation between one of the confidential sources and Phillips in an August 9 conversation. During that conversation, Salisbury said, the source asked Phillips whether he was ready to try again.

Salisbury submitted that since the August 1 seizure Phillip had become very concerned over the presence of law enforcement. In a conversation between himself and James, one of the defendants, the men discussed the continued pressure from Customs. The US agents also tapped into conversations between Mickey Phillip and Glenroy Phillips on September 5 this year where the two men appeared to have discussed an impending load of narcotics. (Stabroek News)

An argument between two boys over sweets resulted in a confrontation between their mothers and one dousing the other and her friend with a corrosive substance last night. Thirty-two-year-old Abiola Edwards, a mother of two and of 105 Section 'B' Buxton East Coast Demerara sustained severe burns to her body and is now a patient of the Burns Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Her face, shoulders, ears and hands were scorched and the substance also caused her hair to be burnt off. The scorched parts of the woman's body had already darkened by the time she was taken to the Burns Care Unit. Edwards, a resident of French Guiana, came to Guyana on learning of the death of her cousin Donna Herod some two weeks ago. She was scheduled to return today.

Randy Webster, the woman's friend who was with her at the time of the incident, told Stabroek News last evening that he went to the village yesterday to locate her after he learned that she had come back to Guyana. He said she was accompanying him out of the village to catch a minibus when the woman confronted her.

"'Is a story you want? Is a story you want with me?' That is what she came up to Abby saying. Nobody didn't answer she and she continue flaring up and then Rasta man stand up in front of Abby and he start to tell fuh tell them cool out. He tell the girl to rest she self and cool down too," Webster recounted.

He said the next thing he knew was that the woman had tossed a substance on Edwards. He said some sprayed on him as well as the other man who intervened. "We didn't even see she had something in her hand because the place was dark. But then I realize my clothes start burning and I it rip off my backâ€¦," the man said as he showed his burns.

Edwards's sisters rushed to the hospital last evening and one of the women was angry and shocked that a petty argument among children could escalate to such levels. "Is some sweets Abby had brought back and she had given her children as well as the same girl's children. And like the children had some argument and one kicked the other and like the child mother didn't want it rest so she take revenge," Evelyn Hestwick, told this newspaper.

The woman said Edwards had forgotten about the incident, which she said occurred some time last week. Another relative recounted that following the same incident the woman had thrown a knife at Edwards's back but nothing came out of it because Edwards ignored the woman. According to relatives, even though the matter was reported to the police the woman was still at home hours after the incident occurred. (Stabroek News)

The sight of policemen patrolling the Buxton/ Friendship community continues to worry the traumatized children of Donna Herod, an official at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security says.

The official said while the children seem fine and are trying to come to grips with their mother's death, operations still ongoing in the village are causing them further psychological trauma. "For instance one of the children told me, 'Miss I see the police was here and I ran for my life,'" the woman recounted.

Minister Priya Manickchand told Stabroek News that several visits have since been made to the family's home and they have been informed of the services which the ministry has to offer. The ministry is working with the children and the dead woman's sisters and a social worker has since been assigned to the family.

The social worker said that she has started counselling sessions with both the children and Herod's sisters. She said the most recent visit was on Tuesday and a report from the visit is to be submitted to Manickchand for a decision on the next step. This newspaper was told too that to date documentation has already been prepared for the provision of public assistance for the children.

On Wednesday Herod's grief-stricken sister, Joan Watterton, said the children are receiving much support from family. Herod's sisters are now tasked with playing a major role in bringing up her children. Since the woman's death several organisations have publicly expressed the need for her family to be supported and many have called for an inquiry into the killing.

Acting Police Commis-sioner Henry Greene has said that the bullet that killed Herod did not come from weapons the police used, even though ballistics tests done so far have not revealed a match between the warhead recovered from the woman's body and shells recovered from previous incidents involving the Buxton gunmen.

Greene was unable to tell this newspaper whether the police had tested the warhead that killed the woman against their own weapons. However, the acting commissioner maintained that the police did not shoot the woman as officers had been heading in a different direction from where Herod was shot during their operations on September 4.

Greene said police were heading south in pursuit of the wanted men when they heard that someone had been shot in the other direction. He said that on hearing this, the policemen retreated, located the victim and rushed her to the hospital which effectively stopped them from capturing any of the 11 gunmen they reportedly saw. Greene had also previously speculated that Herod may have been killed during crossfire shooting.

Observers have said that it is time the police conducted an analysis on the warhead against their own weapons since the spent shell did not match any others it was tested against. However, police sources believe the bullet that killed Herod could have been fired from a weapon that was not previously used by the gunmen or it could have been from a police weapon.

Herod had reportedly walked through Brushe Dam, to avoid the area where the police operation was being conducted, to fetch her four-year-old child from the Friendship Nursery School. The woman suffered a gunshot wound above her right eye which resulted in her death. Herod was the mother of nine. (Stabroek News)

Suriname winnaar in grensdispuut met Guyana

The Arbitral Tribunal constituted to establish a maritime boundary between Guyana and Suriname under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“1982 Convention”) today made its Award public.

The Award, which includes a finding of jurisdiction to consider the Parties’ maritime delimitation claims, establishes a single maritime boundary between Guyana and Suriname that differs from the boundaries claimed by each of the Parties in their pleadings before the Arbitral Tribunal.

The boundary for the most part follows the equidistance line between Guyana and Suriname. However, in the territorial sea, the boundary follows a N10°E line from the starting point to the three nautical mile limit, and then a diagonal line, from the intersection of the N10°E line and the three nautical mile limit, to the intersection of the twelve nautical mile limit and the equidistance line.

The Arbitral Tribunal describes the boundary in the territorial sea as follows:

The delimitation line commences at Point 1, being the intersection of the low water line of the west bank of the Corentyne River and the geodesic line of N10°E which passes through Marker “B” established in 1936. …

The Tribunal holds that the 10° Line is established between the Parties from the starting point to the 3 nm limit. [Thereafter,] the Tribunal arrives at a line continuing from the seaward terminus of the N10°E line at 3 nm, and drawn diagonally by the shortest distance to meet the line adopted … to delimit the Parties’ continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

The line adopted by the Tribunal to delimit the Parties’ continental shelf and exclusive economic zone follows an unadjusted equidistance line.

The Arbitral Tribunal additionally held that both Guyana and Suriname violated their obligations under the 1982 Convention to make every effort to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature and not to hamper or jeopardize the reaching of a final agreement. Moreover, Suriname was found to have acted unlawfully when it expelled a drilling rig licensed by Guyana from the disputed area.

Background

The arbitral proceedings were initiated by Guyana on 24 February 2004 pursuant to Articles 286 and 287 and Annex VII of the 1982 Convention. Written pleadings were filed pursuant to the Rules of Procedure adopted by the Arbitral Tribunal on 30 July 2004, and hearings were held in Washington, D.C. in December 2006.

The Arbitral Tribunal constituted to decide the dispute is composed of H.E. Judge L. Dolliver M. Nelson (President), Professor Thomas M. Franck, Dr. Kamal Hossain, Professor Ivan Shearer, and Professor Hans Smit. The Permanent Court of Arbitration serves as registry for the Arbitral Tribunal. The text of the Award has been posted on the website of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (http://www.pcacpa.org/).

THE HAGUE 20 September 2007

THE ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL UNANIMOUSLY FINDS THAT

1. The International Maritime Boundary between Guyana and Suriname is a series of geodetic lines joining the points in the order listed as set forth in paragraphs 328 and 400 of this Award and shown for illustrative purposes only in Map 4 on the preceding page;

2. The expulsion from the disputed area of the CGX oil rig and drill ship C.E. Thornton by Suriname on 3 June 2000 constituted a threat of the use of force in breach of the Convention, the UN Charter, and general international law; however, for the reasons set out in paragraphs 450 and 452 of this Award, Guyana’s request for an order precluding Suriname from making further threats of force and Guyana’s claim for compensation are rejected;

3. Both Guyana and Suriname violated their obligations under Articles 74(3) and 83(3) of the Convention to make every effort to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature and to make every effort not to jeopardise or hamper the reaching of a final delimitation agreement;

4. The claims of the Parties inconsistent with this Award are rejected. Done at The Hague, this 17th day of September 2007, (http://www.pca-cpa.org/upload/files/Guyana-Suriname%20Award.pdf)

Gunmen yesterday afternoon shot dead a 40-year-old contractor in what some believe was retaliation for him allegedly informing the police about a murder conspiracy.

Dead is Khemraj Rattan called 'Kemo' of 705 Grove New Scheme, East Bank Demerara. Police said that the murder occurred around 2:30 pm at Orchard Street, West Ruimveldt. Sources say the police would be considering whether this was a contract killing as opposed to a robbery.

According to a police statement, investigations revealed that Rattan, who law enforcement officers de-scribed as a gold miner, was at Guyson's Engineering to collect a piece of equipment and was near his motor vehicle when two men approached on foot. One of them, armed with a firearm, discharged several rounds at Rattan which struck him about his body.

The two men took away a black haversack that was in Rattan's possession and escaped using a motorcycle and a car which were parked some distance away. Police also said that Rattan, who was held in a matter of conspiracy to commit murder which is still under police investigation, was taken to the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival. No one has since been held in connection with the shooting.

Reports reaching Stabroek News are that Rattan had been solicited to carry out a murder but later informed police of the plan. Police arrived at the pick up spot and arrested Rattan and another man in whose car the weapon was found. Rattan was released after spending a few days in custody. Relatives and friends of Rattan congregated at his home upon hearing of the news of his death.

His wife Joycelyn told Stabroek News last evening that she believes that the incident is related to something that occurred in the latter part of August this year. She explained that after the incident in August, her husband seemed afraid because he spent about three nights at the home. She said that she was worried about him but he never told her anything. Joycelyn added that she expected to hear that her husband was killed because of the situation.

"Whenever the phone rang I expected to hear that news. So what happened wasn't a shock for me I can't even express my emotions", she said with tears in her eyes. She said that from what she heard her husband was at the shop when two men rode up on a motorcycle and shot him.

She said that she called the phone her husband had and she heard a strange voice. "I asked the person who he is and he asked who is me. So I told him that I am the owner of the phone and I would like to talk to the holder of the phone. He tell me how is the chief security officer at the hospital and that I should check with him immediately".

She said that when she got to the hospital her husband was already dead and he had bruises on his face as though he was fighting back. The doctor, she added told her that he was shot in the chest. She said that the haversack that he had with about $200,000 and some very important documents was missing.

Joycelyn said too that they have two young children who are on holiday abroad and it was only yesterday morning that Rattan paid for their tickets to come back home. Persons residing close to Guysons Engineering, West Ruimveldt told Stabroek News that it was about 2:30 pm when two gunshots rang out. They said that upon rushing to the scene, Rattan was observed lying face down on the road, next to his car.

He was not moving and appeared to be dead. Residents said that after trying in vain to locate a vehicle, two employees of the company picked up the wounded man and placed him in his car and drove him to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Residents said that the incident happened very quickly and they did not see any of the gunmen.

On Sunday morning, a gunwoman, who was having a fight with other women on Main Street, shot and killed Kenrick Nero. The woman had fired her gun, not hitting her intended target, but rather Nero and two other men, including 20-year-old Delmus Reddock. The incident had begun in the New Courtyard and ended up on the road where the shots were fired, after which the alleged shooter sped off in a car. The alleged shooter and two other women are in police custody. (Zoisa Fraser/Stabroek News)

Ex-prison officer Winfield battles on bravely

Quacy Sampson photo Caption: ex-Prison Officer, Roxanne Winfield sitting with Alexis De Court at her home in Sophia, Georgetown.

More than four years after that daring jail-break, which nearly took her life, shot and maimed ex-prison officer, Roxanne Winfield battles on with life with the dreadful and agonising memory of February 23, 2003 indelibly implanted in her mind.

Ever since that tragedy life has not been easy for her as she lost her husband, Mark Winfield last December, who passed away following a brief illness. She is currently staying with her ex-sister-in-law, Alexis De Court, 50, at Lot 83 Plum Park, Sophia, Georgetown, who has been taking of her for the past three years.

Mrs. Winfield’s two children also are not living with her, her son, Jamal, is working in Antigua and her daughter, Anike who is 11 years old is living with De Court’s daughter at Enterprise Park, East Coast Demerara. De Court is the sole care giver of Mrs. Winfield after her husband, Mark died last year.

De Court told the Guyana Chronicle that she has been divorced from Winfield’s brother for 23 years, but they have five children from their marriage. De Court fondly recalled that from the time she joined the family Roxanne was always nice to her in every possible way. “This is the reason why I took her (Roxanne) in after I promised her husband on his death bed that I will take care of her,” De Court said.

The woman pointed out that from the time Roxanne was shot and injured in February 23, 2003 jailbreak at Camp Street where she was working she was there for her. She added that after the incident and Roxanne’s remarkable recovery from the life support machine she was staying with her parents and nine siblings at Paradise, East Coast Demerara for about one and a half years. However, her father died last month while her mother became ill.

Roxanne is conscious but blind in the left eye and has a hole in the left side of her temple where she was shot that fateful day when her colleague, Troy Williams, 21, was stabbed to death. She is unable to walk but has a wheelchair and she is able to sit upright if assisted and often sings gospel and respond when spoken to.

De Court explained that Roxanne’s hearing is impeccable and she would speak and even greet the neighbours if she is sitting in the verandah and is a very jovial person. “It is a 24-hour job to take care of Roxanne and I don’t get paid to do it but I am a very tolerant person who believes in humanity and helping others,” De Court remarked.

She added that she is not receiving a salary to care for Roxanne, but gets $27,000 from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and $20,000 from Ministry of Finance and that is how she is able to maintain Roxanne who is on a diet of specific foods. De Court said that from time to time the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) would visit Roxanne and bring pampers or a gift to assist but apart from that she is not receiving any other help.

After Roxanne’s recovery the Ministry of Housing and Water allocated a house lot to Roxanne which is located at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara and due to some legal matters her son and husband was unable to start construction. “Roxanne needs to be with her children in her own house because in her condition she needs love and attention and the ones she love to be close by her and care for her,” De Court stressed.

Roxanne is completely off medication and seems happy and would laugh if a joke is made but is unable to clearly say what she wants. Mrs. Winfield was critically wounded from the gunshot to her head and had to be treated both here and in Trinidad and Tobago. Many people did not expect her to survive but she was flown to Trinidad and Tobago where she underwent extensive treatment, including speech therapy.

Mrs. Winfield was also on life support machine for several weeks and very delicate surgeries were performed on her by local doctors as well as Neurologist, Dr Richard Spann. Dr. Spann determined that the bullet entered Mrs. Winfield’s right cheek, exiting through the left ear causing damage to the brain necessitating a removal of a portion of the brain.

But doctors have been able to achieve, much success even though she is left incapacitated. On Mashramani Day, 2003 she was at work at Camp Street Prison when five dangerous criminals shot and stabbed their way out of prison. (Stabroek News)

Two Guyanese men living in Barbados were yesterday charged with the murder of Guyanese Donnelle Francesca Goodluck who was found dead in her bed with her throat slit last week.

According to reports from the island, Dellon Dexter David, 27, a mason of Fowl's Road Lake, St Andrew and Shane Andre Roland, 27, also a mason and of Sergeant Road, St George appeared in the Belleplaine Magistrate's Court in St Andrew and were remanded to prison until September 24.

Police in Barbados had announced on Monday that they were questioning two Guyanese men in connection with the death of Goodluck. The two men were taken into custody on Monday after 21-year old Goodluck, was discovered on Friday evening at a Lakes St Andrew residence with what lawmen described as an apparent stab wound to the body. The young woman had been in Barbados since July 1 this year.

Goodluck's relatives had told this newspaper that arrangements were being made to bring the body home for burial. The deceased woman had an 11-month-old daughter Rehanna Goodluck who was being cared for by her father following her mother's death.

Goodluck had left Guyana in July to be with her child's father and was discovered dead in her bed by the brother of the child's father with her throat slit. Her 11-month-old daughter was lying next to her in a pool of blood crying but was unhurt. The child's father was at work when Goodluck was killed and he said the home was ransacked as though whoever committed the murder had gone there to rob him. (Stabroek News)

In the wake of the killing of Donna Herod, a joint services contingent returned to Buxton/Friendship yesterday afternoon stirring up further tension in a raid which saw a helicopter flying overhead and dozens of lawmen tumbling up homes and arresting several men.

One man, Patrick Summer told reporters that he was assaulted by a joint services rank while another rank placed a weapon in his hands and asked him to identify it. "Dem seh how I am an informerâ€¦ but these things would only make people more frustrated,"

Summer, who returned from Trinidad and Tobago last month and was due to travel back to the country today, said. He told Stabroek News that the lawmen took away his passport as well as a cell phone valued $60,000. "In all my life I live in Buxton nothing like this ever happened to me," an emotional Summer declared while trying to hold back tears. Up to press time there was no statement from the joint services on the operation.

The joint services have stepped up operations in several East Coast communities following an upsurge in crime. Villagers mostly women were out in their numbers yesterday as the joint services conducted their searches, checking house-to-house in an operation which started just before midday and ended at sunset.

The police for years have had strained relations with Buxton and Friendship residents over the harbouring of criminals and the slaying of Herod earlier this month during a botched police operation has further damaged goodwill which followed the handing out of gifts to a village girl over her success at the secondary schools entrance assessment.

When Stabroek News visited Friendship yesterday several jeep loads of soldiers and policemen were on the southern end of Brusche Dam searching homes. Anita John of Friendship told this newspaper that the lawmen descended on the villages around 11:45 am yesterday. She said based upon reports the joint services ranks had gone to some of the schools informing the head teachers that they were about to conduct an operation and as such they should either send the children home or keep them in doors.

Stabroek News was told by residents that just before the raid a jeep load of men who identified themselves as utility workers went into the village and requested to search residents' homes. One woman said she was suspicious of the men and her concerns grew when she peeped into the men's vehicle and saw guns lying on the floor. The same men who had earlier identified themselves as utility workers would later join the police and soldiers during the search.

Meanwhile, John said that she was in her house when one of the ranks kicked her door and entered. About eight soldiers and two policemen barged in. The woman said the ranks told her that they were there to conduct a search on her property and they proceeded. John said the ranks ransacked all of her drawers, emptying clothes and other articles on the floor. "They leave my place in a mess," John said, adding that she did not harbour gunmen in her house.

The woman said after spending about 20 minutes the officers left empty-handed and proceeded to search other homes. Summer said that he was on his way home yesterday afternoon when he was stopped and searched by the joint services ranks. The man said after asking him a few questions, the policemen in the contingent proceeded to assault him. "I was beaten partner, things that I never do these men mek I do," the Buxtonian related. "This is abuse this is not police work," Summer complained noting that he had seen his brother being mistreated by the police and later becoming a criminal.

Leroy Hamer a farmer said that he was harvesting pigeon peas when he was confronted by a band of lawmen who ordered him out of his farm. Hamer said the joint services ranks then searched his bag and asked him a few questions. Hamer said that a few metres from him, his nephew, Victor Jones, was tending to his farm and he too was confronted by the law enforcement officers.

Hamer said he observed when Jones was collared by the policemen who later escorted him out of his farm and placed him in the trunk of their pick-up. Lamenting the manner of the joint services operation, Hamer said that he had become fed up of the constant harassment villagers were facing. "We belong to the land and that is where we have to stay," Hamer said.

Hamer said that the constant raids were destroying the image and economic background of the village. George Herod, brother of the late Donna Herod said that his home was also ransacked by the lawmen who kicked down his door and tore up some of his clothing. While the joint services ranks conducted their search on the ground a helicopter flew overhead.

At the scene yesterday were several relatives of Donna Herod. While the searches were being conducted the Buxtonians continued to lament the killing of the mother of nine. In a statement on the day of Herod's killing the police said that ranks had crossed over the Embankment going south on Brusche Dam when they came under gunfire and they returned fire.

The statement said ranks continued moving towards the identified targets and came under fire again while chasing after around 11 men who ran into the bushes in the backlands area. According to the police, information was subsequently received that a woman had been shot north of the embankment. The statement said the woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. On Friday last, Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene told this newspaper that he was maintaining that the police did not shoot Herod.

Greene called on residents who witnessed the shooting to come forward and give statements to the police, while assuring that the matter is being investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility and the report would be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice on completion. (Stabroek News)

Police narcotics ranks yesterday confiscated some 306 kilogrammes of compressed marijuana from a ship which was docked at the John Fernandes Limited Wharf. The police say that around 11 pm on Sunday, ranks swooped on the `C F S Palamedes'. Sources say they had received a tip-off.

Reports stated that a quantity of the marijuana was found on the deck of the ship while another set was found in a container onboard the vessel. The marijuana seized carries a street value of some $24M. Stabroek News was told that the ship only arrived in Guyana on Sunday after leaving Jamaica for Paramaribo, Suriname before travelling on to Guyana.

A police statement yesterday said that 17 bags containing 71 packets of compressed marijuana were found. It added that the vessel had arrived with a shipment of containers and the boat has since been detained. Crew members and one stevedore were being questioned by the police, the statement said.

Meanwhile reports are that a stevedore working at the wharf was aware of the marijuana being on board the vessel and attempted to bribe a crew member who found out about the illegal substance. A source told Stabroek News that the marijuana was supposed to be picked up by two small vessels which were expected to pull up alongside the vessel. However this plan was allegedly thwarted after the crew member called the police who were given assistance by ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit.

Meanwhile when contacted for a comment on the bust this newspaper was told after several telephone calls that the Managing Director of John Fernandes Limited was not available for a comment. However a security official confirmed that the vessel on which the marijuana was found was owned by C.V. Shipping.

The official told this newspaper that the company is not worried about its security arrangements since according to him the shipment of marijuana did not pass through the shipping company's security system. Yesterday's bust was one of the largest in recent years. Several other high-profile busts were made at wharves. In 2002 ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a supposedly empty 40-ft container and found 380 bales of marijuana weighing 1,871 kilogrammes.

The bales were stashed in a concealed section of the container. The container was about to be loaded on the "Henrich-J" vessel which was docked at the wharf of John Fernandes Shipping Limited. It was tagged for shipment to Miami.

With the marijuana being found on board on Sunday, a decision is likely to be made on whether the vessel will be confiscated by the state as was the case with the MV Danielsen on which a huge amount of cocaine was found around a decade ago. The government and law enforcement authorities have come under increasing pressure to crack down on the drug trade.

There have been very few busts even though there is a strong belief that large amounts of cocaine and marijuana are transiting the country. Observers pointed out that this bust came as a result of a phone call, not intelligence work. In recent years, large amounts of cocaine have been intercepted abroad in a variety of commodities from Guyana. (Jenelle Carter/Stabroek News)

A blazing row over a woman that started in the New Court Yard ended bloodily yesterday morning a short distance away on Main Street when a gunwoman fired off three shots, killing a hospital porter and wounding two other men. Fifty-eight-year-old Kenneth Nero was the person who died during the shooting.

After firing the shots the woman reportedly jumped into her car and drove straight to the Alberttown Police Station to report that she was assaulted. She was then told she had to go to the Brickdam Police Station to make the report. By the time she arrived at that station word was already out that she was involved in a shooting and she was held by the lawmen.

Reports are that the woman has since denied she fired any gun but several persons who claim to be witnesses to the shooting have named the woman, who has had several brushes with the law, as the shooter.

And while the management of the New Court Yard was at pains yesterday to point out that the shooting did not happen on its premises and that the shots were not fired from in front of the business place, the man who was killed, Nero, was sitting next to the business place's ticket booth when he was struck by the bullets, killing him on the spot.

Another man, 20-year-old Delmus Reddock of North Sophia, was shot in the groin and is now in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation while another man, who was not identified, is said to be a patient at a private hospital. A relative of Reddock's said last evening that the man underwent surgery and he is in a serious but stable condition.

One of the managers of the New Court Yard, who declined to give his name, yesterday told Stabroek News that while he did not witness the shooting, from all reports the shots were fired from outside the building next door where the alleged shooter's car was parked. He however, acknowledged that the woman and her friends were patrons of the New Court Yard just before the 3:15 am shooting.

And Nero, while not on the payroll of the business, is a friend of the owner and would usually be at the premises every night. He was always available to take part in the cleaning up after closing time and would be given food or a 'top up' after the task was completed. Nero also worked at the GPHC as a porter and was one of the three persons who "cut the dead" during post-mortem examinations at the hospital's morgue.

Stabroek News understands that the incident started in the New Court Yard and ended up on Main Street. It was pointed out by management that the shooting could not have happened inside because persons were not allowed to enter the premises with firearms. The alleged shooter is said to have had her weapon in her car but while a gun holster was recovered on the scene the police have not found the weapon. Three spent shells were recovered from the scene by the lawmen.

It was reported that the alleged shooter may have taken a fancy to the daughter of a well known personality. The alleged shooter, who earlier this year was linked to another shooting at another location, wanted to have a relationship with the young woman. The alleged shooter and her friends reportedly caused a confrontation after the girl did not heed the woman's advances. The father of the girl yesterday told Stabroek News that his daughter has since indicated that it was not the first time she was "troubled" by the woman.

The alleged shooter and her friends reportedly accused one of the girl's friends of spending too long in the washroom as an opening to get to the girl. They then turned on the girl and following some "pointing of fingers" in each others' faces the girl was given a sound beating by the alleged shooter and her friends. The girl was reportedly stomped in her face during the thrashing and was only saved after some persons took her behind the building.

What exactly transpired outside on Main Street is still unclear. Some have indicated that the alleged shooter was being restrained by one of her friends when she suddenly whipped out her gun. From the reports received the alleged shooter fired the shots in such a wild manner that her intended target, another woman, was not injured at all but rather the three men, none of whom she had a problem with, were shot. It is understood that as the alleged shooter jumped into her car and was driving away a crowd followed her and attempted to stop her from leaving but she managed to manoeuvre her way from the scene.

At Nero's Light and Church streets home yesterday his reputed wife, Denise Alli was still trying to come to grips with his death. She said she was told that her husband was shot three times. She was under the impression that her husband worked at the New Court Yard, something management has since denied, and that he has been working there for a few years.

He worked at the GPHC in the day and would spend most of his nights at the New Court Yard. Nero was the father of four children and the stepfather of four others. His wife said he would be greatly missed and that he worked hard to contribute to his family's well-being. They were building a house together at Hope on the East Bank. Nero's workmates at the hospital yesterday were shocked and saddened by his sudden demise.

Stabroek News understands that following the shooting the police searched the alleged shooter's East Bank home. One of the woman's aunts has since denied that the woman fired the gun and according to her after the shots were fired she sped away from the scene and went straight to the police station because she knew she does not have good luck. (Oluatoyin Alleyne/Stabroek News)

A serving member of the Guyana Police Force and another man were arrested by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks yesterday with one kilogramme of cocaine in their possession. Reports stated that CANU ranks acting on information intercepted two cars behind the Botanical Gardens and the prohibited substance was found in one of the cars.

Stabroek News was told that around noon yesterday a white AT 192 car was being escorted by a burgundy car which was being driven by a police rank in civilian clothes. Acting on information received the cars were both stopped and searched and the drug was found hidden under the front seat of the white car.

Sources say the prohibited substance carries an approximate street value of US$25,000. Meanwhile following the arrest this newspaper was told that several properties in the Kitty and Durban Street areas were searched. (Jenelle Carter/Stabroek News)

Commissioner of Police (ag), Henry Greene is adamant that the bullet that killed Buxton woman, Donna Herod did not come from the police, even though ballistics tests done so far have not matched the warhead recovered from the woman's body to shells retrieved at previous scenes involving Buxton gunmen.

However, Greene could not say whether the police had done any tests of the warhead from Herod's body against their own weapons. Maintaining that the police did not shoot the woman, the commissioner said the police officers on the operation were heading in a different direction from where Herod was shot.

He said the police were heading in a southerly direction in pursuit of the wanted men when they heard that someone had been shot in the other direction. He said that on hearing this, the policemen retreated, picked the woman up off the road and took her to the hospital. Because they took this action, the lawmen were unable to capture any of the 11 gunmen they reportedly saw.

Greene had told this newspaper previously that the most he could say was that Herod was probably shot in the crossfire. Observers believe it is time that the police conducted an analysis on the warhead against their own weapons since the spent shell did not match any used by the gunmen. Police sources believe the bullet that killed Herod could have been fired from a weapon that was not previously used by the gunmen or it could have been that of the police.

In a statement, police had said that ranks had crossed over the embankment going south when they came under gunfire and they returned fire. The statement said ranks continued moving towards the identified targets and came under fire again while giving chase behind around 11 men who ran into the bushes in the backlands area. According to the police, information was subsequently received that a woman had been shot north of the embankment. The statement said the woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police had announced last year their acquisition of a bullet catcher, which had assisted them identifying a suspect in the murder of Corentyne butcher Gangaram Busjit. The bullet catcher captures the bullet undamaged so that examinations and comparisons can be made. A typical bullet catcher can recover bullets from all pistols and rifles with a maximum bullet velocity of 1,100 metres per second. The bullet catcher has a three-block chamber. The chamber is filled with nonflammable fibres and the bullet is trapped in these fibres. It is not clear whether this equipment was utilized in determining whose bullet killed Herod.

Greene told Stabroek News that the incident was very unfortunate and he called on those who had witnessed the shooting to come forward and make a statement to the police. Greene said investigations were ongoing and that at the end of it the report would be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

More than a week has passed since Herod was shot and killed during a bungled police operation in Friendship. The police issued a statement afterward saying that the bullet that struck her could have been fired either from an AK-47 or M-70 rifle. Both of these high-powered weapons are being used by the police as well as by the gunmen.

Herod was laid to rest on Wednesday. Her relatives told Stabroek News on Friday that they were still awaiting the results from the police investigation. Family members are yet to make a formal complaint to the Police Complaints Authority. Herod was shot and killed last Tuesday during an exchange of gunfire between police and gunmen in Friendship, East Coast Demerara as she was taking two of her nine children home from school.

A number of organisations have called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and last week Herod's relatives picketed the Ministry of Home Affairs, Brickdam office calling for justice. Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee had assured the media last week that he had ordered an investigation into the incident.

In a call for an investigation into the shooting of the mother of nine, Help and Shelter said in a statement that Herod's death, reportedly in crossfire between police and alleged criminals, was an indication of the level of destruction and lack of respect for human life that seemed to pervade Guyana. The organization urged that ongoing psychosocial support be provided to Herod's children and relatives and that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security be prepared to deal with the trauma, especially to the children who were present when she was shot.

The Guyana Human Rights Association had also condemned the killing of the 47-year-old mother, saying that the police operation in the village was ill-conceived, badly executed and poorly led. The association said the Guyana Police Force and the government need to move decisively to erase any impression that they were dissembling or evading responsibility for what it termed a bungled operation.

"Nothing which has emerged thus far is encouraging. Mumblings about ballistics tests and whether the fatal bullet came from the police weapon insults public opinion. The police could have known within an hour which of their weapons fired the bullet. A swift initial apology and a commitment to a transparent investigation - the minimum immediate response - have not yet been forthcoming," the GHRA said. (Stabroek News)

A 20-year-old Guyanese woman was yesterday discovered dead in her bed in St. Andrew's Parish in Barbados with her eleven-month-old child lying beside her crying and in a pool of blood.

Dead is 20-year-old Donelle Goodluck of Sixth Street, Patentia Village, West Bank Demerara. Stabroek News understands that the woman's body bore multiple stab wounds.

Relatives last evening told this newspaper that the young woman and her baby Rehanna Goodluck left Guyana on July 1 to stay with the father of the child, also Guyanese who left Guyana over a year ago for Barbados where he is employed as a mason.

The woman's sister Shyion Johnson said the family learnt of the woman's death through a phone call from the man's brother at about 2:30 pm yesterday. She said the brother shared the apartment with them. The still terrified woman said the man recounted that he went home at about 1:30 from work and heard his niece crying and he called out to Donelle but got no reply.

"He said after he didn't hear anything he decide to go in the bedroom and he see blood on the bedroom floor and when he look in the bed he saw her bleeding and she look as though she dead and it looked too as though she was stabbed, and the baby was lying down right next to her in blood but nothing was wrong with the child," she recounted.

The woman said the man also told her that he could not find his brother and was unable to make any contact with him, but advised them that he was calling the police. Johnson told this newspaper that the family tried effortlessly to return a call to him but only got his voice mail. The woman's relatives believe that the man may have been held by Barbados police for questioning.

The woman also said that her sister was reluctant to go to Barbados to live with her child's father but was encouraged to go since the two had a child together. "She didn't want to go but we tell she go because I mean they already have a child together and we tell she go and take the walk and come back," she said.

The dead woman's sister said her sister and the man had been together for about two years but by the time she had the child he had already been in Barbados for a couple of months. Donelle's trip to Barbados was also her first. "It's the first time she go and is he send for her and she said that she would have stayed for about six months and come back from Christmas.

Johnson said her sister called them every time she got the chance and never complained about any problems with the father of her child but always lamented that she wasn't employed and vowed she would be able to help her family back home as soon as she managed to find a job.

The Goodluck family said they are shocked and terrified at the killing and are worried at the fact that they have absolutely no contact with anyone in Barbados. This newspaper understands that up to last evening the Bajan police were trying to track down the father of Donelle's child. (Stabroek News)

A man who allegedly murdered a security guard by hitting him in the head and leaving the body to decompose in the man's house was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Oneidge Walrond-Allicock. Trevor Major was not required to plead to murder when he appeared at court six of the Georgetown Magistrate's court.

It is alleged that on September 4 at Supply, East Bank Demerara he murdered Marvin Sancho. The decomposed body of Sancho, a 24-year-old security guard was discovered on a bed in his home just over a week ago. He had wounds to his head and a bloody piece of wood was found nearby. Major's case was transferred to the Providence Magistrate's court for October 9. (Stabroek News)

Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton yesterday remanded to prison a police officer who allegedly had a pistol and 12 bullets in his possession without licence, despite pleas by his attorney that he was set up.

Cuamy Innis, 26, of Unity Street, La Grange pleaded not guilty to possession of firearm and ammunition without licence when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court.

It is alleged that on September 7, at Georgetown, he had in his possession one firearm, that is, a .32 Taurus pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith objected to bail for the officer.

Innis' attorney, James Bond, told the court that his client is charged with an offence that defies all logics. He said Innis is a serving member of the force and has been set up. He requested bail saying his client had nowhere to run and would attend court.

After the Magistrate said she was remanding Innis, Bond asked that his client be kept under close arrest at the station and not be sent to prison. The attorney argued that it would be unfair to put his client there when, he, while serving the force with distinction, had put men behind bars.

The Magistrate declined his request and remanded Innis to prison. He was ordered to return to court on November 14. (Stabroek News)

The police have arrested two men following a robbery at Remus Road, Agricola, East Bank Demerara on Wednesday, in which six armed men attacked and robbed two men of a quantity of jewellery, a cell phone and $15,000.

A release from the police said the two victims were walking along the street when they were confronted by the bandits who held them at gunpoint and demanded cash and jewellery. They robbed the men of the items and struck one of them on the head with a firearm in the process.

The release said that as the bandits were leaving, one of the victims drew his licensed firearm and discharged several shots at them, but the men still managed to escape. It is suspected that one or more of them may have been hit, the release said, as traces of blood were found in the area. Two men were subsequently arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations. (Stabroek News)

Villagers look on as the casket bearing Donna Herod's body arrived at her home yesterday.

Hundreds of Buxtonians wearing black and red armbands and waving palm branches yesterday buried one of their own amid loud wailing and moving tributes which eulogized the hard-working Donna Herod at a sombre funeral service held according to Pan African rituals at her South Vigilance, East Coast home.

Herod, a mother of nine, was killed by a still unclaimed bullet fired from either an AK-47 or M-70 rifle during a bungled police operation in Friendship last week. The police are still said to be conducting various tests to determine who would have fired the fatal bullet.

The gathering, predominantly women, started a procession singing religious hymns and waving palm branches from the railway embankment, followed by the hearse, which carried the woman's body as they continued to her humble abode. As the procession approached the home, members of the spiritual movement lined the streets as pallbearers carried the casket into the yard.

Three of Donna Herod's children yesterday after the casket bearing their mother's remains arrived at their home.

As the casket bearing Herod's body arrived, loud wails emanated from the gathering as Herod's children screamed for their mother who was shot just above her right eye, killing her instantly.

Her sister Joan Watterton could not contain herself and had to be held by relatives as she too wept uncontrollably for her sister who she had spoken to just minutes before she was shot on September 4.

Residents lined the streets and those nearby opened their doors and windows to witness the procession. The nearly three-hour-long funeral service which was also attended by representatives of Red Thread, Karen DeSouza and Andaiye and several members of the PNCR Central Executive reiterated the woman's untimely death and her years of commitment to ensuring a proper future for her children.

Several members of the church spoke of Herod's dedication to her participation in church activities and the common thread running through all the tributes was that the woman would be greatly missed. Family members also recounted her life as a hard worker who helped everyone in any way she could.

Herod's niece, who read the eulogy, recounted that her aunt at one time served in the Guyana Police Force as a Constable, also worked with a local security service and continued on her path of always being employed in order to meet the needs of her family. The gathering sung many hymns, all Herod's favourites as they bid her farewell.

PNCR Executive Basil Williams, who paid tribute on behalf of his party used the opportunity to call on the government to do its duty to Herod, which he said was to take care of her children. He told her relatives and friends that the woman's death could have been avoided if the government had adopted the Disciplined Services Commission's recommendations regarding the Guyana Police Force.

According to him, those recommendations would reflect in a more informed police special squad, which would be of great need when the force is carrying out special operations. "We see a woman who was prepared to walk into gunfire and secure her childrenâ€¦ indeed something all women can emulate," Williams said as he extended sympathy to the Herod family calling the dead woman a heroine.

Williams was flanked by General Secretary Oscar Clarke, Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette and other members of the party's executive. As the peaceful funeral service ended around 6 pm, villagers proceeded to the Vigilance cemetery where the woman's body was laid to rest. All the time this newspaper was on the scene of the funeral, up to around 5 pm not a single uniformed police was in sight, neither on the embankment road nor on the main road in that area.

The fact that the warhead recovered from Herod's head did not match any the police had retrieved from previous skirmishes involving the gunmen out of Buxton, has since put the spotlight back on the police who have been severely criticized by various groups for the manner in which the operation was conducted.

In a statement last week the police said the warhead recovered from Herod's body could be used in both the AK-47 and M-70 rifle, two weapons that both the police and gunmen have been using. On Tuesday, the force said in a statement that its Office of Professional Responsibility will investigate the matter and will report its findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice. (Stabroek News/Ken Moore photo)

The Police yesterday said that its Office of Professional Responsibility is to investigate the circumstances of the killing of Donna Herod in Friendship last week and a report will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

The force also chided the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) for rushing to judgment on the operation in Buxton/Friendship last Tuesday when Herod, a mother of nine, was fatally shot, as the human rights body did not even first seek to hear from them.

The GHRA had pronounced in a statement published in the September 9th edition of the Sunday Stabroek that the "police operation last Tuesday in Buxton, during which 47-year-old Donna Herod was killed, was ill conceived, badly executed and poorly led."

The police in the release yesterday asserted that "We are of the view that the police should be able to act on intelligence at anytime and not (be) restricted to any specific time frame and for any organisation to decide that an operation was poorly executed, it had to have been on the ground to observe the operation." The police added that the basis that informed the GHRA's views is of interest to them.

The police also described as "shocking" the statement issued by the GHRA which has been for the last few years working in close collaboration with the Guyana Police Force.

The police release noted that "the organisation has implemented several programmes in the Force, most pronounced being the one-week Human Rights seminar facilitated by the Felix Austin Police College, aimed at educating police ranks to equip them with the knowledge and skills to facilitate an improved police attitude towards members of the public."

This working relationship with the GHRA commenced during 2002 and since then over twelve training programmes involving ranks at all levels of the police force were conducted with the assistance of the human rights body. The police also recalled that during last year the Guyana Police Force in collaboration with the GHRA produced a training manual on "Human Rights in Policing", a project that was funded by the UNDP.

The Force noted that it has been appreciative of the GHRA's efforts, but also pointed out that it "feels that it has been unduly targeted and labelled with the intention of the policemen involved being treated unfairly."

The release stated further that the Force "has no objection to the demands of any organisation for an inquiry or investigation, but the Police Office of Professional Responsibility which has dealt with several matters in the past that has resulted in criminal prosecution or departmental action, where necessary, has been tasked to examine all the circumstances and submit a report to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for scrutiny and advice."

The police also reiterated their sympathy for the family of Donna Herod, who, it said, from their investigations appears to have been an innocent bystander.

The police maintained that their intention, based on information received, was to interdict armed criminal elements who have been plaguing the society and were wanted for several robbery/murders. These include, the release said, the recent robbery/murder at Agricola on August 18 where security guard Donald Headley and passer-by Dexter Barry were shot and killed during an attack on a PGS armoured security vehicle and the robbery/murder of businessman Kumar Singh at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, on August 30.

Meanwhile, the GHRA stated that in condemning Herod's death it was calling for an "independent board of inquiry preferably comprising experienced former military and police officers, so that lessons can be learnt from this disaster and to avoid a repetition."

"While the death of a mother of nine from a well-known Buxton family, who from all reports was a pleasant, well-liked person, commands immediate attention, the consequences of this appalling incident for the community also need to be counted."

"Although the death of Donna Herod is the most shocking feature of the event, many people appear to have been traumatized, both by the ferocity of the shooting and the callousness of its timing. Citizens reported a lamb dropping dead from a stray bullet a few feet from where they live in a side street. Prep A and Prep B classes stop for lunch at 11 am, primary classes 1-4 break for lunch from 11.30-12.30, and nursery schools end at 12 pm. In other words, this bizarre operation was launched when the maximum number of school children would have been to-ing and fro-ing from lunch. In the circumstances, casualties amounting to one dead woman and one dead lamb is a miracle," said GHRA.

The statement said that the Guyana Police Force and the government need to move decisively to erase any impression they are dissembling or evading responsibility for this bungled operation. "Nothing which has emerged thus far is encouraging. Mumblings about ballistics tests and whether the fatal bullet came from the police weapon insults public opinion", the GHRA said.

A central feature of transparency, the statement said, is an honest explanation of exactly what this operation was intended to achieve. It noted that eleven criminals who were reportedly seen only by the police, all supposedly in one house and all of whom fled to the backdam past a Guyana Defence Force camp which was not alerted to the operation, seems far fetched and beyond belief. (Stabroek News)

A 32-year-old shop owner was yesterday burned about his body with hot oil by bandits while a woman who was with him was shot in her hand in a robbery at the man's New Road, Mazaruni shop.

Mark Pierre of 11 D'Urban Street was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital with burns on his right shoulder, back and stomach while the woman, Cheryl Thomas of Fourth Avenue, Bartica was treated and sent away.

While details of the robbery were sketchy, reports reaching this newspaper are that Pierre was in his bathroom yesterday morning when the bandits began shouting for him in front of his shop. He was pulled out of the bathroom by the men, who demanded money, gold and guns.

He reportedly said that he didn't have any and the bandits replied that if he didn't hand over anything they would burn him. He maintained that he didn't have anything and the bandits took a frying pan and heated up some oil and threw it on him.

Meanwhile, Thomas was in the same shop and before fleeing the bandits fired a shot at her which hit her on the right hand and exited. It is unclear if they managed to get anything. (Stabroek News)

The decomposing body of a 24-year-old security guard suspected to have been murdered was yesterday afternoon discovered on a bed in his home at Supply, East Bank Demerara with wounds to the head and a bloody piece of wood nearby.

Dead is Melvin Sancho, a security guard who resided at 13 Supply, EBD. A police press release last evening stated that at about 1:15 pm, Sancho's body was discovered after a stench affected nearby residents who called in the police. His head had marks of violence and he was reportedly last seen alive on the evening of Tuesday. A piece of wood with suspected blood stains was recovered at the scene.

Marva Thomas, the mother of the dead man, told Stabroek News that she lived with her son at the home and last saw him on Monday morning when she left for work in Linden. Thomas related that Sancho is the youngest of her three children and she usually leaves home early Monday morning and returns on Friday. She stated that she last saw her son on Monday morning but he was sleeping when she left the home.

She spoke to him later in the day when he called to tell her that he had completed a task for her in Georgetown. Thomas recalled that the Sunday night before she left, she and her son had watched a movie together. She was at a loss to say what could have happened to him and who would have wanted to harm him.

She stated that she received a call yesterday telling her that her son's body was found in the home and that a piece of bloodied wood was found nearby. The entire home she stated was in disarray and she could not go there. She returned to Linden last evening. The police have taken the piece of wood for evidence as investigations continue. (Stabroek News)

Suien Xia's body being taken to the Georgetown Hospital mortuary yesterday morning.

A Chinese businessman was shot dead yesterday when three armed men invaded a North Road home, tied up its occupants and escaped with a large amount of cash.

Dead is Suien Xia, 38, of 248 North Road, Bourda who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body during the home invasion which also left his wife Tiang Xui Hung and his brother traumatized.

The police arrested four suspects following a high speed chase. Xia's murder follows that of mango trader Kumar Singh who was shot dead after a large gang of gunmen invaded his Cove and John, East Coast Demerara home last Thursday.

Police yesterday gave the dead man's name as Xie Sui En but court records have his name as Suien Xia. Xia was the target of alleged attempted murder earlier this year and a robbery in the court lock-ups shortly after he appeared before a magistrate.

He had appeared in court on a forgery charge. The police said that they are investigating a robbery/murder which occurred around 8:30 am where the Chinese businessman was fatally shot.

Taing Xiu Hung (right) clutching her husband's pants shortly after doctors pronounced him dead.

The statement said that the man and his wife were closing their home to go to their business place on Hinck Street when they were confronted by three men carrying firearms who took them back into the house and demanded cash. A scuffle ensued between the businessman and one of the bandits during which he was chopped and shot in his head.

The three armed men escaped after taking away US$900 and $10,000. Police said that the businessman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile sources yesterday afternoon informed this newspaper that four men are in police custody in connection with the incident. This newspaper was told that shortly after the incident police chased a car with four occupants and managed to apprehend two of them including the driver while the others made good their escape.

According to a source, police acting on information from the two in custody, went to a yard in Kitty where two other suspects were picked up.

Details as to how the robbery/murder occurred are sketchy but Stabroek News was told that sometime around 7:30 am three armed men came through an alleyway at the back of GUYNAZ supermarket and pounced on the unsuspecting family. The businessman's home is located in a building adjoining the back of the supermarket.

Stabroek News was told that the men tied up the businessman, his brother and his wife with duct tape as they made their demands. One man who sells in a section of the supermarket told the media that when he arrived at the location at about 7:40 am and opened his store he heard knocking but did not pay heed. It was shortly after that, he said, Xia's wife emerged from the alleyway at the side of the house with duct tape on her mouth.

The badly injured man, who was shot in the head, shoulder, neck and back was placed in a 4x4 and rushed to the Georgetown Hospital where he died around 9:10 am while receiving treatment. He arrived at the medical institution at 8:30 hours.

When this newspaper arrived at the hospital the dead man's wife covered in blood was walking around the Emergency Unit of the hospital and just staring ahead in silence. The shock and trauma she suffered was evident in her expression. Tears were streaming down her face. As the body was being taken to the mortuary, the woman clutched her dead husband's pants and wailed even as friends attempted to comfort her.

Back at the crime scene, police were busy conducting their investigations and persons who knew the businessman who some referred to as "Tall man" and "Sui" flocked the home as the news of his death spread. They all expressed their shock at his demise. Blood was still evident on the roadway and at the head of the passageway where the heavily bleeding Xia was placed in the vehicle. At least two persons were on the scene with lots of blood smeared on their clothing.

This newspaper was informed that the trio has been living at the North Street home for the last year and they were recently the victims of a break and enter and larceny. Persons in the area said that they are of the belief that the men came through the alleyway behind the building and left the same way since no one reported seeing anything strange.

Meanwhile, the business people who are operating in the GUYNAZ supermarket are calling for police protection. One of them told this newspaper that it is not only Regent Street business persons who pay taxes.

"Is not them alone, we does pay too. We need police protection in this place too. They can't only be patrolling Regent Street," he said. The man also pointed out that a lot of car trunkers and other criminal-minded persons frequent the area. He added too that he was also a victim of a break and enter and robbery recently.

He informed Stabroek News that the police response on the scene was very slow. He said that when they were putting the businessman into the vehicle to take him to the hospital a police vehicle passed. He said that after they realized what was happening they drove up Church Street and came back. Lin Jai Ya, a fellow Chinese businessman, was charged with stabbing Xia earlier this year. The offence was allegedly committed on July 10 at North Road.

According to reports, the businessman had rented a store in the GUYNAZ supermarket and later rented it out to Ya with a full stock. Ya according to reports this newspaper received was not paying Xia for the rent or stock so on July 10 Xia reportedly went to the store and began to break up items with a hammer. He was later reportedly stabbed by Ya and had to be hospitalized.

On June 7, Xia was allegedly robbed of US$2,000, $75,000 and his cellular phone in the Georgetown Magi-strate's Court lock-ups by prisoners who severely beat him.

Moments before this incident he had appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle charged with forging documents and was placed on $75,000 bail. It was alleged that between October 17 and November 29 last, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud Xia forged a passport purporting to show that he was issued an extension of stay on pages 12 and 13 of his passport knowing it to be forged.

This newspaper understands that he had other matters of a similar nature before the court. Six prisoners who were in the lock-ups at the time of the alleged robbery were questioned.

Last Thursday around 8 am at least ten bandits converged on the Cove and John area around 8 pm Thursday shooting indiscriminately and attacking Kumar Singh and his family, including small children, for about 20 minutes before fleeing into the backlands with cash and jewellery.

Rohee

Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee yesterday told reporters that the Friendship, East Coast Demerara fatal shooting of a mother of nine will be thoroughly investigated but so far there are no reports of the findings as a post-mortem report is being awaited. He was speaking after a presentation at Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday.

Rohee also reported that he is not in receipt of any report of unrest in Buxton last Tuesday night and is not aware that the police/army has moved camp from Buxton, East Coast Demerara. The Minister told reporters that the police are working within the confines of the law and investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, a press release from the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security said yesterday that they have dispatched social workers to the home of Donna Marcus-Herod who was fatally shot in Friendship on Tuesday last during a police operation.

The Ministry said that they are investigating the circumstances of the children and will be intervening in their well-being. The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in a statement strongly condemned the shooting to death of Ms. Donna Marcus-Herod and extended condolences to her family.

The party said that they are forced to conclude that her death was uncalled for as the attack on the Buxton community was unprovoked. Investigations by the PNCR revealed that there was no activity in Buxton or attack on the police which would have warranted the kind of aggressive fire from members of the police force.

The shooting to death of Donna-Marcus Herod could destabilise the Buxton community and lead to the kind of violence and mayhem that has gripped that community in the immediate past. The residents of Buxton also have called for a prompt and thorough investigation into this matter.

The Party called on the PPP/C administration to ensure that such an investigation takes place without any delay, those guilty identified, and those responsible for the assault upon this community be condignly punished. The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) also in a press release called on Rohee to launch an investigation into events surrounding the fatal shooting of Donna Marcus-Herod.

The statement added that the need for an urgent, impartial inquiry into the killing is underscored by the conflicting reports from the police and eyewitnesses. The WPA said that the police allege that the deceased was caught in a cross-fire while eyewitnesses state that there was no confrontation but that the police were trigger happy and shot indiscriminately.

Donna Marcus-Herod, 47, of Lot 125 Bladen Hall Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, was shot and killed while on her way home from work after collecting two of her nine children from the Friendship Primary School, a short distance away. She was cut down by a single bullet in the right eye while clutching her children.

Police in a press release said about 11:55 hours Tuesday acting on information received that a number of wanted men were hiding in a house, police launched and operation at Friendship, East Coast Demerara. The statement added that the police had crossed over the embankment going south when they came under gunfire and the ranks returned fire.

The release stated that as the police continued moving towards the identified targets the ranks were shot at again and they returned fire while giving chase behind a total of about eleven men who ran into the bushes in the backlands area. The statement said that police subsequently, received information that a woman had been shot north of the embankment.

She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Marcus-Herod received a single gunshot wound above her right eye. Police said another team of Joint Services ranks have since been dispatched to assist with further action in relation to the bandits who escaped into the backlands. (Guyana Cronicle)

SUICIDE IN MAZARUNI.

Two persons are feared dead as news of a possible a murder/suicide gripped the families of a young man and his girl friend who went into the interior to pursue a better living. But yesterday Janett Isaacs, the mother of the 24-year old Yohanda Forde who is believed to be murdered by her 19-year old boyfriend Manu Layne, who in turn probably killed himself, was in tears not knowing if her eldest child was still alive.

The mother said the boyfriend had used the name 'Dwayne' to her daughter and the rest of the family when he met them; but it was only recently that she realised that he was lying. She said when contact was made with the young man’s mother, she related that his name is Manu and not Dwayne.

The grieving Isaacs said she could not bear the news of her daughter, who has four children, was dead and vowed to go into the ‘bush’ to find her body. The bodies are reportedly buried in Mazaruni and Isaacs said her daughter was “fetched” by Layne to Mazaruni where she was possibly killed.

The young woman’s boyfriend according to Isaacs had telephoned her some time ago saying “Look out for your daughter on 6 O’ Clock news.” She said she then re-dialled the number which showed up on her cell phone but no one answered the phone.

The mother fears for her eldest child among ten children, who in May, was attacked at her home by a man who is now before the court for intruding her home and wounding her. Yohanda was expected to attend court shortly in relation to the charge made against the intruder at her home earlier this year.

Yohanda’s mother said she was not too mindful of the 19-year old man and had questioned her daughter when she met him in Linden. She said she told her daughter that the man had a familiar look and she questioned her daughter about a relationship with such a young person.

At the time Isaacs was living at ‘Black water’ where she operated a business of her own but she remarked she was also willing to assist her children without much assistance from their father. It was on one such occasion when she visited Yohanda that she met with Layne. (Joe Chapman/Guyana Cronicle)

Rohee refutes claim that Marcus-Herod was intentionally shot by police

Reports by some sections of the media that no bandits were in the area are mischievous
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has refuted claims from certain sections of the media that the Police intentionally shot and killed Friendship resident Donna Marcus-Herod during the confrontation with bandits at Buxton last Tuesday.

At a press briefing yesterday held at his office to address the issue, Rohee said that reports in certain sections of the media that no bandits were in the area are grossly mischievous and by far are mere speculation.

The minister explained that the police had entered Friendship after they received information that 11 wanted men were in the village. He pointed out that the Police under no circumstance would go to the area to shoot at a blind target.

Rohee added that contrary to reports the police did not go in the area to shoot Marcus-Herod but solely to capture the wanted men and suggested that the woman was fatally shot by the bandits during an exchange of fire with the police.

The minister lamented that the Buxton/Friendship area is a safe haven for criminal elements either through fair or favour and their frequency in there has caused the death of Marcus-Herod. The minister is reminding the public that a law has recently been passed in the National Assembly making persons harbouring criminals a criminal offence and subject to prosecution.

He re-affirmed the public that the police will relentlessly pursue the criminal elements in society where ever they might be because it is their duty and responsibility. The minister has also suggested that the police might embank on a new approach to capture criminal elements but decline to go into details.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also regretted the death of the woman but announced that a thorough investigation will be launched into the matter soon after yesterday’s post mortem. (Guyana Cronicle)

Mother of nine fatally shot during police operation in Buxton

Rohee assures thorough investigation into the incident

GRIEVING: Sister and children of Donna Marcus-Herod

A mother of nine was yesterday fatally shot during what police described as an operation in the village of Friendship, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Donna Marcus-Herod, 47, of Lot 125 Bladen Hall Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

Police in a press release said about 11:55 hours yesterday acting on information received that a number of wanted men were hiding in a house, police launched and operation at Friendship, East Coast Demerara.

The statement said that police subsequently, received information that a woman had been shot north of the embankment. She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Marcus-Herod received a single gunshot wound above her right eye.

Home Affairs Minister Mr. Clement Rohee in a comment to the Guyana Chronicle said he has not been fully briefed on the matter as yet. He, however, assured that a thorough investigation will be carried out on the circumstances leading to the entire shooting incident.

Police said another team of Joint Services ranks have since been dispatched to assist with further action in relation to the bandits who escaped into the backlands. Joan Watterton, 44, sister of the deceased told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that her sibling was on her way home from work and decided to collect two of her children from Friendship Primary School.

“I was with her at the school and I collected one of the children while she said she was taking home two others and we parted company and she told me she heard gunshots and saw police and did not want to pass on the embankment,” she recalled.

Watterton said she decided to take a “short cut” on her way home, while her sister walked ahead of her on the embankment and was fatally shot. “I was behind her and I just turned my back and next I heard gunfire and a neighbour screamed and shouted that my sister is dead,” she cried yesterday. Watterton pointed out that when she turned back she saw her sister Marcus-Herod laying on the road with a group of ranks over her.

The grieving woman said that she was unaware that there was a confrontation in the area and she did not see any bandits. “They murdered my sister and hauled her lifeless body and dumped her in the back of a police vehicle and took her away minutes after she was shot,” Watterton said. Marcus-Herod’s two children ages 11 and 7 years old who were with her at the time she was killed, fortunately they escaped with injuries but sadly, witnessed the incident.

Marcus-Herod’s two children were too traumatised to speak yesterday when the Guyana Chronicle visited and had to be comforted by relatives and they wept uncontrollably. The family is contending that the police shot and killed Marcus-Herod because she had her working clothes and long boots and had finished weeding trenches in the area.

She also had two plastic bags with dried coconuts, eddo leaf callaloo and fish. Marcus-Herod is survived by her husband, seven siblings, scores of relatives, nine children, two of whom live overseas. (Guyana Cronicle)

Wanted bulleting issued.....

for three NA escapees still at large

Alvin Bhola

Police have issued wanted bulletins for three prisoners who remain at large following the daring escape on August 25, last, in which a total of 18 inmates from the New Amsterdam Prison escaped. Warrants for the three escapees still at alarge arrest have been issued by the court.
Troy Benn

The three fugitives are: Troy Benn, 30 years, of 635 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown. He was on remand on a charge of murder; Alvin Bhola of Line Path, Skeldon, Berbice who was on remand on a charge of carnal knowledge; Anthony Campbell of 45 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam , Berbice. He was on remand on a charge of murder.

The Police are asking anyone with information which may lead to the arrest of the fugitives to make contact on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-1326, 225-3650, 226-6978, 225-8196, 333-3876, 333-2191, 333-2151 to 2154 or 911. All information will be treated with strict confidence. (Guyana Cronicle)

A Guyanese man, who only left Guyana one week ago, was shot and killed outside his Brownsville, New York home on Saturday night. Rodney Cornette, 43, had only recently returned to the US after spending time in Guyana with his wife and son.

The New York Daily News reported yesterday that the man was sitting in front of his home and died on the spot. The newspaper said Cornette and his friend Michael Daly were sitting outside Cornette's two-storey brick home in Brownsville late Saturday night when they were both shot.

"I heard five or six shots and then ran downstairs," said Adlon Marks, 25, a cousin, who lives in the Howard Avenue house with Cornette. "Rodney was already dead. Michael was shivering," the newspaper quoted the cousin as saying.

The report said Cornette, a construction worker, was shot in the head on the red stucco steps of the home he shared with seven relatives. He was declared dead at Brookdale University Hospital. Daly was shot once in the shoulder and underwent surgery at Brookdale. He is expected to survive, officials said. No arrests were made and the motive for the shooting was not clear, police said.

According to the newspaper, Cornette had returned to Brownsville just a week ago from a visit to Guyana to see his son, Ryan, and his wife. Bertram George, who grew up with Cornette in Dartmouth, Essequibo, called his pal "a family man". "He wanted to go back when he got old and retire," said George, 46, as he stared at Cornette's contorted body at the foot of the stoop. "The man found the woman of his dreams. He was happy. He went to visit her a lot."

The report also said that Cornette was known for his Guyanese cooking; especially his curry and rice dishes. He was preparing such a meal just before he was killed, Marks said. "He had just finished cooking some food. He was giving it to his friends," Marks said. "Before I knew it, there were shots."

The man's sister, Dulcie George, who lives in Essequibo, yesterday told Stabroek News that they were informed that Cornette's friend and some men had an argument some time prior to the shooting. She said reports were that the men drove up in a car and started to shoot wildly. She said her brother had been living in the US for the past ten years, but he would return every August to spend time with his family. (Stabroek News)

An East Bank Demerara woman and four of her six children are in custody following the bizarre murder of her fiancé whose corpse was discovered under some old tyres in her backyard early yesterday morning.

Dead is Edward Williams, 33, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. Williams was allegedly hacked to death by his lover and her children of 14 Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara.The couple was expected to be married yesterday, relatives said.

Relatives said yesterday that the duo often quarrelled because she was a very jealous woman and she did not want him to work. They reported that about 10.30 pm Friday night Williams was observed drinking at a nearby shop and returned to the woman’s home, parking his bicycle in front of the yard when he was attacked and killed.

“Is only Friday afternoon the two of them (Williams and Jenny) were in the yard hugging and kissing like love birds,” neighbours added. Relatives explained that as soon as he entered the yard, Williams was attacked by the woman and chopped about the body.

She stood guard at the gate while the four children, aged 16, 14, 10 and 9, took Williams body at the back of the yard where they mutilated it. The body was discovered with the feet bound, the pants down to the ankles, underwear pulled down, and the shirt just over the head. (Guyana Cronicle)

An overseas-based Guyanese woman is in police custody assisting with investigations into the brutal chopping to death of the man with whom she had a relationship and had planned to marry yesterday. The body of 38-year-old Edward Williams, a resident of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was found in the yard at the woman's Coverden home yesterday. According to the police he was killed around 22.30 hrs.

The body showed evidence of multiple chop wounds, and when this newspaper arrived could be seen lying between a pile of tyres in the yard. Williams was clad only in blue shorts, and blood was evident in certain parts of the tyre-filled compound. The eccentric looking premises were surrounded by piles of truck tyres, while broken plant pots and windows testified to a struggle having taken place.

A press release from the police yesterday said that Williams had gone to the home of the woman to collect some documents. His request for these was refused, and a quarrel ensued during which it is alleged he was chopped about the neck and other parts of the body with a cutlass. The statement went on to say the body had been found partly hidden under some tyres and sand, and that three cutlasses had been found at the scene by the police.

The neighbours said they knew the woman was a United States citizen and travelled frequently with her children, sometimes remaining in the US for long periods. One neighbour who preferred to remain anonymous told Stabroek News that around 11 pm on Friday he heard funny noises coming from the home, but he ignored them since he assumed that perhaps the woman and her sons were having some problems, which was a not unusual occurrence.

"But the noise continued, and then I heard a loud crashing sound and then neighours called the police," he said. The man added that he was not clear what the situation was when the police came, and that maybe at that time everything was still fine, which was why they left.

None of the neighbours claimed to have heard the man shouting for help or crying out for pain at any time. The man said he and the other neighbours ignored the family, because in any case, the woman and her children did not communicate much with them.

Another neighbour told this newspaper that Williams had told her that he and the woman were supposed to have got married yesterday. She said he also informed her the wedding date had been postponed many times in the past. The dead man's relatives were on the scene yesterday, but remained tight-lipped when asked by this newspaper as to whether the couple had had any previous domestic quarrels. Yet another neighbour described the woman and her family as "weird."

"It's not good to talk about people, but something about the family has always seemed different, but I have just never spoken to them." The woman, her two sons and daughter were taken to the Timehri police station where they were questioned by police who are continuing investigations. (Stabroek News)

Police matched a 7.62 x 39 spent shell found at the scene where businessman Kumar Singh was killed in Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Thursday, to shells found at the Professional Guard Service (PGS) crime scene in Agricola, a police press statement said yesterday.

The release also criticized those police sources which spoke to Kaieteur News, and acknowledged there had been a resurgence of criminal activity along the East Coast and East Bank.

According to the release, police ballistics examinations conducted on one of the 7.62 spent shells found at the Cove and John scene matched nine 7.62 spent shells found at the Agricola crime scene, where on August 18, 2007, armed men attacked a PGS armoured escort vehicle killing a PGS security guard and a passer-by.

"It should be noted that previous matches from the Agricola murders in February last year; the murder of former Minister Sawh and three others at his LBI home in April last year; the Eccles/Bagotstown murders involving the Kaieteur News staff during August, 2006 and the robbery/murder at Canal No.2 Polder in October, 2006 where Kowsilla Mahadeo was shot and killed were also taken into account.

Wanted bulletins have been put out, in connection with the Minister's murder, for several persons who were alleged to be hiding out in the villages of Buxton and Agricola," the statement said.

Additional patrols by the Tactical Services Unit had been launched on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, the release continued, and the armoured and rapid intervention vehicles had also been launched into these operations aimed at finding and rooting out criminal elements.

"The Force wishes to emphasise that our anti-crime units on the streets are properly trained to deal with incidents of this nature. Our ranks are prepared to confront the criminal gangs anytime. However, these gangs have managed to do damage and escape from the scene before the ranks arrive," the police said.

The statement lashed out at "so-called" ranks and police veteran sources who had spoken to Kaieteur News and advised them to "channel their energies into providing tangible support for, rather than the baseless criticisms levelled against, the hard working police men and women who are patrolling the streets day and night."

It went on to characterize these sources as "disloyal" saying they were "sowing seeds of lethargy and pessimism which do not represent the current morale of members of the Police Force."

With respect to the Cove and John robbery/murder, the police said the Divisional Commander had stated that the nearest police patrol was in the Victoria Village area and that they had responded as soon as they had received the information about the robbery being in progress, and had been able to escort the injured persons to the GPHC.

Reference was made in the statement to the August 31 and September 1 editions of Stabroek News, where it had been reported that the police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) had begun investigations into the police response to the crime. It went on to say too that the OPR had commenced investigations into the police response to a robbery at Second Street, Alexander Village based on a report carried in yesterday's Kaieteur News. (Stabroek News)

Three masked gunmen early yesterday morning carted off over $500,000 in cash and jewellery from a Lancaster Village, Corentyne family. According to Chandradass Appan of Lot 25 Lancaster Village, he got up with his wife Nadera Chunnu at about 3 am yesterday to prepare his lunch.

He told Stabroek News that he works as a cane harvester at the Albion Estate, and would normally get up around that time. He said that when he opened the door to the lower flat of his two-storey home three masked gunmen encircled him.

He tried to scream out to his wife but they rained blows on him which silenced him. The three armed bandits then tied him up and brought him into the house while asking about "some gun and whey the car deh." He told them that he did not have a gun nor a car, adding that "you must be deh ah de wrong house" because he is only a "cane cutter". However, they continued to kick him although he was made to lie face down.

His wife Nadera, who also spoke with Stabroek News, said that she heard the screaming downstairs and went to investigate. When she was halfway down the "inside" stairway the bandits saw her coming and told her to "continue down, don't stop." They then grabbed her, pushed her to the ground and tied her up too.

They told her that they wanted all the gold that she usually wears, including the ones she had on her fingers. They threatened to cut off her fingers to get the rings, but she suggested that they untie her hands so that she could take off the rings herself.

They did untie her and she took off the rings and gave them. They then tied her hands again and resumed asking for money and more jewellery.

Soon afterwards they began beating Chandradass again, and then they cut the cable from the fridge, plugged it into the socket and used it to shock him by placing the loose end to his legs and abdomen while demanding more cash and jewellery.

After a few minutes they saw that their torture technique was not working as he kept telling them "we nah get more," so they said, "as you nah want talk we gon deal with you wife." They then started to hit her in her stomach and on her hands. Her cries caused her son to wake up and he went downstairs to see what was happening and the bandits then tied him up also.

The gunmen further threatened the parents saying that they would take the son away for a ransom. On hearing this the mother said, "I get some money and I gon give you." Two of the bandits went upstairs with her while the other one remained to guard the father. Soon the bandit downstairs shouted to his two accomplices saying, "them neighbour putting on lights. Let we guh."

The bandits then cut the telephone line and grabbed two cellular phones before fleeing with their booty. The family called the police at about 4.30 am but "them never come till eight o'clock time." Chandradass has since visited a doctor as he was suffering a pain in his stomach. No one has been arrested. (Adrian Smith/Stabroek News)

Another of the prisoners who escaped from the New Amsterdam prisons has surrendered to police. Reuben David, a resident of Sandvoort, West Canje turned himself into a policeman who resides in the same village at about 8:20 am yesterday. Efforts are still being made to recapture the remaining escapees.

Still on the run are Troy Benn, Alvin Bhola, Jaipersaud Naipaul and Anthony Campbell. Benn, Naipaul and Campbell were remanded for murder while Bhola was being held for rape. (Stabroek News)

Relatives and friends of Kumar Singh, the mango trader who was killed after a gang of armed men stormed his Cove and John, East Coast Demerara home on Thursday night say they feel betrayed by the police who arrived about 15 minutes after the ordeal was over, despite repeated calls to the nearby station.

They believe that had the ranks from the Cove and John Police Station which is located a short distance away responded promptly, the bandits could have been captured or chased off.

Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene when told of the arguments raised by relatives and residents about the police's response, told Stabroek News yesterday that this was the first time he was hearing about this and that he would look into the matter.

Greene was the guest speaker at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Limited (GMSA) business luncheon yesterday at the Regency Hotel where he spoke about combating crime in Guyana. During his presentation, he mentioned that the force's action plans for this year include the effective management and control of criminal activities and achieving effective quick response patrols. There has been a resurgence in crime all across the country and four major attacks in recent weeks which left several people dead. The police are yet to make arrests in these cases.

At least ten bandits converged on the Cove and John area around 8 pm on Thursday shooting indiscriminately and attacking the family which numbered about nine inclusive of small children for about 20 minutes before fleeing into the backlands with cash and jewellery.

Singh, 38, died while undergoing emergency surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation about one hour after the ordeal had ended. He was shot three times in the chest, twice in the knee and once in the side. His brother-in-law Brazilian miner Jose D'Acruz Arauijo was shot in his buttocks and yesterday afternoon relatives informed this newspaper that he would be leaving the hospital and will later travel to Brazil to have the bullet removed.

Arauijo's wife Bhagmatie Singh was gunbutted in the head and hit in the eye by the men while Singh's 14-year-old daughter was hit in the nose. They were both treated at the same institution and sent home.

According to the police their investigations so far revealed that Kumar Singh along with his wife Indroutie and three teenaged children were entertaining his sister Singh and her husband D'Acruz and their two children, who had earlier arrived from Suriname, when four men all armed with firearms entered and began discharging rounds in the direction of the family. During this Kumar Singh was hit in his chest and left leg while D'Acruz was struck in his buttocks.

While three other armed men waited outside, the release said, the four bandits held the family at gunpoint and took away a total of US$7, 200, $400 Suriname currency, $38,000 and a quantity of jewellery and escaped into the backdam area. The police recovered a warhead, 4 spent shells and a live .45 round at the scene, the release said.

When Stabroek News visited the home yesterday afternoon, police officers where taking statements from some of the victims as others were busily preparing for the wake.

Sadness streaked the face of those present as some of the survivors openly cried. Singh's wife Indroutie told this newspaper that she is afraid to stay in the house any longer and thinks that she will move out. The distraught woman said that the family has lost its only bread winner and she is clueless as to how to begin supporting herself and children. With worry in her voice, Indroutie said that her elder daughter will be writing CSEC next year.

"Is the lessons fees will give me problems. Where I am going to get money to pay for all those lessons and the exams" she said. The woman said in all the years that she has been alive and living in the area she has never experienced anything like what happened on Thursday night. She is of the view that streets lights and police patrols are needed in the area urgently.

Stabroek News was told that the lone street light in that area was installed by the Singhs themselves since the area was too dark at night. Indroutie and her daughter said that they are pleading with the government to assist them in relocating since they fear for their lives and cannot afford to go on their own right now. "I am desirous of moving but I need assistance. This place is not safe. I been here throughout the elections and nothing like this never happened I never thought that this could have happened to me", Indroutie said.

According to her daughter, who was the first person the gunmen encountered when they came into the yard, her father was killed because he recognized the men or at least some of them. The teenager said that the men had AK 47 rifles and her father told them `ow buddy meh know y'all. Don't do meh nothing. Y'all tek what y'all want'.

Despite her father's pleas, the teenager said her father was shot in knee, immediately incapacitating him, and once in the side. Following that she said the men took everybody into the house which they ransacked and assaulted them. On their way out, she said, her father was groaning and one of the men said "come man we running out of time". It was then that three more bullets were pumped into his stomach. She said that as the men fled into the pitch black backdam, they fired shots in different directions.

This newspaper was later told that the postmortem conducted yesterday revealed that Singh died as a result of internal hemorrhage. Following the ordeal, it was reported to this newspaper that the gunmen asked Singh for $10M. Indroutie said that they are a poor family who earned their income from buying and selling mangoes and rearing poultry and sheep.

Relatives and friends at the house yesterday told Stabroek News that they strongly believed the police didn't come to the area because they couldn't match the firepower that the bandits had. Singh's daughter said she feels betrayed because the police at the station knew her father and it hurts her to know that they knew that they were under attack and none of them came to help. A resident of the area had told Stabroek News on Thursday evening that he was watching television when he heard a barrage of gunshots. He said that he immediately hit the floor and waited until it ended.

On August 2 around 12 heavily armed bandits stormed the Corentyne home of Shamnarine Narine around 2 am and sprayed bullets for about two hours. They entered the yard by ripping apart the barb wire above the concrete fence. The attackers spent close to two hours discharging a fusillade and ransacking the entire house.

After their efforts were unsuccessful they decided to destroy everything in the house and shot at the television set, water tanks, a Lexus and four other vehicles belonging to Narine. It was during the shooting that a woman, Fay Campbell, 28 years, of Cumberland, East Canje was killed while she was a passenger in a truck. The driver of the truck, Mukesh Bridgemohan, 34, of Black Bee, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara was also shot.

At around 1 am on August 18 a Professional Guard Service (PGS) escort came under fire when a gang numbering about four men mounted an attack on their vehicle at Agricola minutes after it had picked up cash at the KFC, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara. The bandits escaped with all the cash the guards picked up that night, and sworn Supernumerary First Lieutenant PGS Security Guard Service, Donald Headley died at the Woodlands Hospital hours after being hit.

Also killed was Dexter Barry, who was in the passenger seat of a car which was headed for the city following an event at the Demerara Harbour Bridge when he was hit. The 22-year-old was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

And on August 21 Nazir Alli, presidential guard and former president of Janet Jagan was shot several times about the body during the scuffle with the men who grabbed his .32 pistol from him before riding away on their bicycles. Reports are that he was socializing in front of his relatives' business place. (Zoisa Fraser/Stabroek News)