Two persons remain in custody as the police probe into the murder of newspaper vendor Shawn Mannilall continues and investigators are working to wrap up their investigation by tomorrow, Crime Chief (ag) Michael Kingston said.
Contacted for an update yesterday afternoon, Kingston told Stabroek News that several persons who were arrested and later released during the initial stage of the investigation were rearrested after a witness provided the police with a statement implicating them.
Kingston said that if the statement was given before, the suspects would not have been initially released.
“Of course if it was given before they would have never been released in the first place,” he said.
He added that the police have since approached the High Court for an extension to further detain the suspects.
However, according to Kingston, the court only granted permission to further detain two of the suspects. As such, the others were released.
Kingston noted that investigators are hoping to wrap up their investigation by tomorrow after which they will seek legal advice on the way forward.
This development came although three men, including two brothers were charged and remanded over the crime.
The men: Carlton Carter, Carl Carter and Delhoya McKenzie appeared last 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.
Kingston said the trio were charged based on legal advice obtained.
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.
