Brazilian miner may have killed himself – cops

Dead is Sebastiao DeSouza Silva age 49 years.

Police said in a press release yesterday that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of DeSouza Silva, whose body was found at about 11:00 hours “with a suspected shotgun injury under the chin”.

The body was found along a trail leading to a worksite and an unlicensed 12 gauge shotgun was recovered lying nearby along with two cartridges and a spent shell.

The body has been brought out to the Bartica mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

A police official told this newspaper yesterday that there is nothing to suggest that the man was murdered. He said that investigators are treating the man’s death as a suicide.

It was explained that persons in the area heard a single gunshot and on investigating found a lifeless De Souza Silva with the shotgun lying nearby.

No one reported seeing anyone fleeing the scene. Based on the police investigations, the Brazilian had no recent problem with anyone.

Police investigations are continuing.