A miner, who was left to guard a sluice box containing two “gold mats” was chopped to death by a co-worker at 111 Miles Madhia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), who later removed the two mats and escaped. Dead is 56-year-old Damion Scipio, also called “Rasta man” of Moco Moco Village, Central Rupununi.
Reports are the chopping incident occurred between 23:00h on Friday evening and 06:00h on Saturday morning. However, the suspect was subsequently arrested at BK Old Road Backdam, Potaro River.
Police investigations have so far revealed that the victim was performing security duties at the camp belonging to a prominent mining company when he was attacked and chopped three times to his head and once to his left wrist which was almost severed.
The suspect then removed the gold mats that the victim was protecting and fled the scene. As a result of a quick response from detectives in F Division (Interior locations), he was apprehended. It is unclear if the mats were recovered but the suspect was taken into Police custody and is being processed for court.
The body of Scipio was taken to the Madhia Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. Police are continuing their investigations.
The Police in a recent release stated that a total of 35 murders were recorded up to the end of April when compared to 53 during the same period in 2016. This saw a 34 per cent decrease.
Of the 35 murders, 20 were as a result of disorderly behaviour, four as a result of domestic disputes, five stemmed from robberies under arms and three were as a result of execution-style killings. The Police are yet to determine the circumstances surrounding the remaining three.
Fourteen of those murders were committed in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) followed by 10 in F Division (Interior locations); six in B Division (Berbice) and four in D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo). One of the heinous crimes was committed in C Division (East Coast Demerara).
