The police have been instructed to conduct further investigations into the murder of newspaper vendor Shawn Mannilall, who was shot after armed bandits invaded his Essequibo Coast home two weeks ago.
This is according to Crime Chief (ag) Michael Kingston, who when contacted for an update last evening told Stabroek News that investigators applied to the High Court for an extension to further detain the suspects which was granted.
“We have applied to the High Court for further detention of the suspects to continue our investigation based on orders given by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers,” Kingston said.
Earlier this week, Kingston had told this newspaper that two persons remain in custody and investigators were working to wrap up their investigation by Thursday.
Kingston had previously explained 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.
He had added 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 had said.
The police had initially approached the High Court for an extension to further detain the suspects.
However, Kingston had said that the court only granted permission to further detain two of the suspects. As such, the others were released.
The men, including two brothers are currently on remand for 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 had 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.
