Essequibo labourer found dead hours after scuffle with friend

The lifeless body of a 46-year-old labourer of Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was found on Saturday morning, hours after he and a friend were involved in a physical altercation. The dead man has been identified as Gary Melville.

Police stated that Melville and the suspect who were friends were seen at about 20:00h at a shop at Lima Sand on Friday evening imbibing alcohol at the same table.

During the drinking spree, the suspect, a 23-year-old of the same village, complained that the victim had burnt him with a cigarette thus leading to a scuffle.

During the fight, the suspect was seen bleeding from his head while the victim was lying on the ground. However, a female who was also at the shop intervened and ‘parted’ the two men.

The victim reportedly left the shop and about 10 minutes later, the suspect left on his motorcycle.

Police stated that at about 05:30h on Saturday, a woman from the area was walking along the Lima Sands Public Road when she observed the lifeless body of Melville lying on the roadway.

As such, she raised an alarm, and the police were summoned.

Upon arriving at the scene, detectives observed injuries about the victim’s body.  The body was escorted to the Suddie Hospital’s Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the suspect was contacted, and injuries were also seen on the left side of his hand, head, and knee.

He was subsequently arrested and taken into police custody after which he was taken to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital where he was treated and handed over to the police as they continue their investigations.