Accused in murder of Brazilian miner appears in court

The man accused of murdering Brazilian miner Jose Rodriguez De Oliveira was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Mark Thompson

The allegation is that on August 7 at Aranka Backdam, Essequibo Coast, Mark Thompson murdered Jose Rodriguez De Oliveira.

The defendant was not required to plead to the capital offence of murder when it was read to him by the magistrate.

The prosecution submitted  that the accused be remanded to prison and his matter transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for report and fixture.

The submission was granted and Thompson was remanded to prison. His matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for September 29.

It was reported that De Oliveira was chopped to death during a heated argument while drinking at Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River.

Ten miners have been killed at interior locations for the year so far and  De Oliveira is the fourth Brazilian.