Agricola Public Road murder trial begins

The trial of Jermaine Savory, who is accused of the 2008 murder of Melissa Payne, who was shot dead on the Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara, commenced yesterday morning before Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the High Court in Georgetown.

The indictment, which Savory denied, alleges, that on November 5, 2008, he murdered Payne.

The state’s case is being led by prosecutor Mandel Moore, in association with Orinthia Schmidt. 

Melissa Payne

The accused, meanwhile, is being represented by attorney Maxwell McKay.

The trial continues this morning at 9.

Payne, 27, of Lot 56 Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, and her common-law husband John Fraser, also known as David Fraser, were proceeding to Georgetown when they were forced to stop because the truck they were travelling in encountered a mechanical problem.

Within minutes and while Fraser, a contractor, was attempting to fix the problem, a gunman pounced on them, shooting Payne, who subsequently died.