Alcohol fuelled a fatal row last Sunday, when a Moruca man was shot by his drinking buddy and then dumped into the river.
The decomposing body of Charles Atkinson of Moruca, North West District was fished out of the river on Thursday. Public spirited citizens also captured the suspect and handed him over to the police. A team of investigators has been sent to the area to conduct further investigations.
According to a senior police source, Atkinson and his attacker had been consuming alcohol together prior to the shooting. However, they later began arguing and the attacker threatened to “done” Atkinson. The source said that the argument escalated and ended up in a physical confrontation. The attacker subsequently took out a firearm, shot Atkinson and threw his body into the river.
A man who was present at the time of the confrontation had intervened and was also injured. He was taken to the Charity Hospital, treated and admitted, according to the source.
Following the shooting, the attacker fled. However, public-spirited citizens were able to apprehend him and he is currently in police custody. The gun he used is reportedly an unlicensed gun. Police sent a team to the area on Thursday to conduct further investigations.
The murder is the second this week in the Moruca area. On Tuesday, miner Fabian George was fatally chopped about his body during an argument with another man with whom he was imbibing at Kariako, Moruca.
Police had dispatched a team there and said yesterday that the suspect was arrested on Thursday in the Village. The suspect had fled following the attack.
Investigations are continuing into both matters. Charges are expected to be laid soon.
