The suspect in the murder of Oscar De Roche is expected to make a second appearance at the Bartica Magistrates’ Court on February 17.
The 43-year-old miner, of Lot 2 Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara was shot and killed on December 23, 2011 during an argument at Enachu, Cuyuni, North West District.
According to a police press release, De Roche was killed during an argument with another man.
The dead man’s sister, Michelle Cornelius, told Stabroek News on Thursday that the accused, Melville Patterson, made his first appearance at the court on December 30, one day after her brother’s burial.
“The police did not inform me or anything… I had to call the day before and they say yes they carrying the man to court tomorrow,” the woman indicated.
She explained that in court, the accused was not required to plead but was only told that he was charged with the murder of De Roche. He was further told that he would be remanded to prison until February 17 when the matter will be recalled.
Cornelius said she viewed the post-mortem examination performed on the body of her brother and as such, she is expected to appear in court as a witness.
Meanwhile, when this newspaper contacted the dead man’s reputed wife, Ivy Orna, it was revealed that the employer is yet to contact the family. The woman said it has been hard on her and her children since her husband’s death since he was the sole provider of the home.
“My big son lost his job and since he died I sick, sick all the time and I does tek it on,” she said.
The woman had previously told this newspaper that two years back, while her husband was in the interior, she received a call informing her that De Roche had fallen from the Kaieteur Falls, struck his head and died, but a few days afterwards he came home, “so it’s hard to believe”.
De Roche has five children; three boys and two girls; the eldest being 23 and the youngest 16.
