Two weeks after he was shot to death as he lay asleep in his camp at White Water Backdam, Konawaruk, Region Eight, police yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for a suspect in the murder of Neville Melville.
The only name given in the bulletin is `Dougla’. No other particulars of the man were revealed. Anyone who may have information that may lead to his arrest is asked to contact the police. All information will be treated in strict confidence.
Melville was shot in the head as he lay sleeping with his reputed wife and five-month-old son, less than 48 hours after he had an argument with the suspect over the operation of a pump
Natasha Sookraj, his reputed wife had told Stabroek News that the whole incident was fuelled by Melville’s refusal to do another `wash down’. This had apparently enraged the suspect, who was an employee.
The woman had recounted that Melville, the suspect and another man did a ‘wash down’ on Saturday morning but the process had only yielded an ounce of raw gold.
The other man left for Mahdia and that afternoon, the suspect asked Melville to do another `wash down’ but the man expressed frustration at their progress so far saying “the … engine could park”.
The woman had told this newspaper that she had awoken to the sound of a loud explosion around 3 am and she attempted to wake Melville but to no avail. It was when she saw blood on her hands that she realized that he had been shot. According to her, the suspect who had a haversack on his back was seen running out of the tent. She added that the area was lit by a ‘bush lamp”.
Help was later summoned at Melville’s uncle’s camp located about 20 minutes away and it was subsequently confirmed that he had been shot and was already dead.
Meanwhile the police are yet to apprehend the man that stabbed Vanburn Allicock to death on a poultry farm, Sand Hills, Demerara River almost two months ago.
This newspaper had been told that the attacker had fled leaving behind an identification card among other items. Police are yet to issue a wanted bulletin for him.
On January 20, Allicock and the attacker were involved in an argument. According to reports Allicock, walked away but was pursued by the attacker who stabbed him in the region of the heart.
He was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
Statements were taken from several witnesses to the incident.