Following the murders of Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff and Donvan Washington in the Arimu Backdam, two miners have been charged with being accessories after the fact.
Travis Fredericks, a 32-year-old miner and Fernando Fredericks a 28-year-old miner both of 287 Tuschen Housing Scheme appeared at the Bartica Magis-trate’s Court yesterday before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed where the charge was read to them. They were charged separately with being accessories after the fact of murder. They were not required to plead and were remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to April 24th for disclosure.
On March 3, 2024, Sheriff, a 50-year-old gold miner from Byderabo Road, Bartica, and Washington, a 26-year-old a porter from Lot 11 Seventh Avenue, Bartica, were shot dead at Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River.
According to the police, two masked men on a red all-terrain vehicle (ATV), carted off 102 ounces of raw gold valued at $37 million along with two licensed firearms (a .32 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun) belonging to Sheriff.
The police press release said Sheriff’s body had circular wounds to his right upper chest, upper right thigh, upper right arm and left upper back, while Washington had circular wounds to his lower abdomen, left chest, left shoulder, left hand, left elbow, four to the right thigh, two to the left thigh and one in his back.
The scene was processed and one .32 magazine with eight live matching rounds, seven 9 mm spent shells and three .32 spent shells were found.
