Wycliffe Smith, the man accused of killing Brazilian miner Armando Da Silva, in Moco Moco, Central Rupununi, was yesterday arraigned on a murder charge.
The allegation against Smith is that on January 21, at Moco Moco Mountain Foot, Central Rupununi, he murdered Armando Da Silva. The accused was not required to plead to the capital offence of murder when it was read to him by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded to prison.
In presenting the prosecution’s case, prosecutor Lionel Harvey said that Smith, the deceased and a number of other persons were drinking on the day of the murder. Smith was drinking heavily, he further noted.
According to Harvey, an argument started among the group. The misunderstanding, Harvey said, later saw the accused going home, arming himself with a shotgun and returning to the gathering. According to the prosecutor, the accused then fired at the deceased, hitting him in the left side of the chest.
After shooting the man dead, Harvey said, Smith then dug a shallow grave, in which he buried Da Silva. The matter was then reported, which subsequently led to Smith’s arrest.
After hearing the case, Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry informed the unrepresented Smith that he would be remanded to prison. The case was transferred to the Lethem Magistrates’ Court for March 7.
