As the police probe into the murder of newspaper vendor Shawn Mannilall widens, investigators have detained three more persons for questioning.
This was confirmed by Police Divisional Commander of Region 2 Crystal Robinson, who when contacted for an update yesterday informed the Sunday Stabroek that the trio was arrested by the police on Friday.
Robinson said the men remained in custody up to yesterday afternoon.
Sunday Stabroek was reliably informed that the men were arrested after they provided investigators with information implicating them in the crime. They all reside in close proximity to Mannilall.
This development came just two days after three men including two
brothers were charged and remanded for the crime.
The men: Carlton Carter and Carl Carter and Delhoya McKenzie appeared on Wednesday before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
They were not required to plead to the murder charge which alleged that on January 10, 2020, at Queenstown, Essequibo, they murdered Mannilall known as ‘Paper Man’, during the course or furtherance of a robbery.
The matter was transferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court when it will be called again on January 29th.
It is now suspected that the men currently facing the murder charge were not the perpetrators of the crime.
As such, Sunday Stabroek was told that the Director of Public Prose-cutions (DPP) will now have to direct whether the charges will be withdrawn against the men.
Mannilall, 48, of Parcel 61 Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, who was a newspaper vendor at Charity and Anna Regina, was shot and killed in his home after he attempted to fend off two men, both armed, who invaded his home.
The attack occurred just around 8 pm. One of the men had a gun while the other was armed with a cutlass.
According to the police, their investigations revealed that Mannilall and his family were about to enter their home when they were confronted by the bandits.
Mannilall was subsequently shot in his chest, shoulder and the right side of his abdomen, causing him to fall after which both men made good their escape, the police said.
Mannilall was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.
He was laid to rest at a funeral yesterday and lauded for bravery. There was a big turnout.
