Three held for questioning in businesswoman’s murder

Police are questioning three men in connection with Wednesday’s execution of businesswoman Leriea Bristol and according to a senior officer they are not being treated as suspects.

Stabroek News understands that one of the men is close to the woman. The other two were picked up based on the descriptions of the perpetrators that police had received but nothing has been found to link them to the crime. There is still no word on the whereabouts of a man who was formerly in the dead woman’s life.

A post-mortem examination yesterday confirmed that the woman died from a gunshot wound to the head. The bullet spilt her left ear before penetrating her skull.

Police are investigating the killing as a ‘hit,’ as nothing was taken from the woman before or after she was shot in front of her Well Road North Ruimveldt home. A resident recounted that he saw when the woman drove past where he was and minutes later heard a loud exclamation, then two gunshots. When he peeped out he saw a motorcycle with a man on it parked behind Bristol’s vehicle which was on her bridge with the driver’s side door open.

Seconds later, the shooter, who was dressed in dark clothing, was seen walking calmly towards the motorcycle.

The resident said that the man jumped on the motor cycle which sped onto an adjoining street before disappearing. He said that the area where the shooting occurred was very dark and has been the favourite spot for armed robbers for some time now. Following the shooting, residents had recalled seeing a motor cycle parked near Bristol’s home, the night before.