The two suspects who were arrested in relation to the murder of Bartica resident Perion Nicholas Bobb have been released, and the police were ordered to conduct further investigations into the matter.
This was confirmed by Commander of ‘F’ Division Kevin Adonis, who told Stabroek News that a case file was prepared and later dispatched for legal advice.
The file, Adonis said, was resent to the police on Thursday with recommendations for further investigations to be conducted. “We have some more work to do,” Adonis said.
As a result, the two suspects were released after their 72-hours detention period expired, Adonis added.
This newspaper had previously reported that Bobb was killed after he was confronted by a group of men in the wake of making a report to the police that persons were stripping a vehicle.
His co-worker, Emmanuel Jeffrey, 60, a miner of Kuribrong and of Good Hope Village, East Coast Demerara, was reportedly abducted by the men afterward.
The murder occurred around 5.30 pm on April 21, while Bobb was transporting dredging equipment from the Kuribrong Trail to the Kuribrong Backdam for Jeffrey.
Bobb was shot once in his stomach. His body was later found slumped over the steering wheel of the pick-up he was driving.
An autopsy later revealed that he died as a result of gunshot injuries to the chest.
Jeffrey was said to be among the two persons who were detained for questioning since he reportedly provided investigators with conflicting reports.
It is suspected that Bobb was shot because he reported that another miner’s vehicle was being stripped for parts. He reported what he had witnessed to both the police and the owner of the vehicle.
Jeffrey had stated that while he and Bobb were proceeding along the trail, he observed a truck proceeding in the opposite direction at a slow rate. As a result, he said, Bobb stopped his pickup for the truck to pass. The truck was some distance away and Jeffrey told the police he heard two explosions, after which he jumped out of the pickup and lay face down on the ground.
Shortly after, Jeffrey noted that he was ordered to jump into the truck. Fearful, he said he complied and entered the tray of the truck, where he saw about eight men, who ordered him to lay face down.
About 15 minutes into the journey, Jeffrey said, he managed to jump off the truck and made good his escape. He walked back to the scene, where he discovered that Bobb had died.
The police were also pursuing the alleged mastermind of the murder. He is yet to be located.
