Shot Alness man was confronted over sheep

A cattle farmer of Alness, Corentyne who was mysteriously shot in his backyard around 2 on Christmas morning was discharged from the New Amsterdam Hospital yesterday.

Hallman Hunte, 32, was shot once in the right side of the abdomen and on his right arm. He told Stabroek News last evening that one of three men fired a single shot at him and escaped.

Commander of ‘B’ Division, Stephen Merai confirmed that two persons were arrested and were released after the 72-hour incarceration period had elapsed.

He told this newspaper too that the police took possession of the firearm and that the matter is still under investigation.

Hunte said he suspected that the attackers,  dressed in black clothing, were the same men who went to his home the evening before and inquired if he had their sheep. He told them that he did not and they left.

He said he got up early the next morning to prepare to go to work with a rice farmer at Black Bush Polder when he was shot. He would normally return around 9:30 am to tend to his cattle.

He recalled that he was returning from the outhouse when he heard what sounded like “stamping” and then saw three persons running towards him. They told him “you tek abe sheep” and fired the shot and fled. He said he ran into the kitchen and closed the door.

His reputed wife Mohannie ‘Vannie’ Sooknanan, 30, had told this newspaper that she was on her way up the stairs for a box of matches when she heard a gunshot and her husband screamed and she ran back down the stairs.

As she neared the bottom of the stairs, Vannie said her husband ran into the house bleeding and collapsed in an unconscious state on a rug in the kitchen.

She said that he subsequently came to and instructed her to go upstairs, but she refused and he shouted out to the neighbours for help. The woman said she was helped to take him to the hospital.