A 38-year-old mason of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), is on trial at the Demerara High Court for the murder of a 27-year-old woman who was shot dead during a robbery at Agricola, Greater Georgetown.
Sylvester Vanderhyden is being tried for the capital offence before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a 12-member jury. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleges that he murdered Melissa Payne on November 6, 2008, during the course/furtherance of a robbery.
Murder accused: Sylvester Vanderhyden
Vanderhyden was only charged for the woman’s murder in May 2017. According to reports, Payne of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and her common-law husband were heading to Georgetown to transact business when the vehicle in which they were travelling encountered mechanical problems at Agricola.
As such, they exited the canter truck and were later accosted by several armed men who relieved them of a bag containing some $110,000 in cash along with a quantity of jewellery. It was after Payne exhibited reluctance to hand over her handbag that she was shot by one of the perpetrators. The men then made good their escape.
Dead: Melissa Payne
Payne’s companion flagged down a motorist who transported the bleeding woman to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Soon after the incident, several men were arrested by the Police.
