Leguan man charged with murder of uncle

Melroy Moore
Melroy Moore

Melroy Moore of Phoenix, Leguan   on Monday appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of his uncle, Aubrey Jonas called ‘Badja’.

The 27-year-old Moore appeared via Skype before Magistrate Esther Sam of the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. He was not required to plead.

He was then remanded to prison and the case stands postponed until 2021-07-29 for report.

The 51-year-old Jonas, a  farmer, succumbed on Wednesday afternoon, hours after he was allegedly attacked by his nephew during an argument over plantains at Leguan.

The incident took place around 2.55 pm on July 7th. Jonas was taken to the Leguan Cottage Hospital, where he succumbed around 4 pm while receiving medical attention.

According to the police, a relative of Jonas reported  that she observed the suspect entering Jonas’ farmland and picking some plantains.

Shortly after, the police said the woman noted that Jonas, armed with a cutlass came out of the backdam and asked the suspect who had given him permission to pick the plantains.

The woman added that Jonas then said “you touch the plantains and you gone see wah gone happen to you”, police added.

An argument ensued and both men subsequently left and went their separate ways. The police further stated that shortly after, the suspect armed himself with a knife and went to the Phoenix Koker and sat there. As Jonas was walking past him heading into the village, an argument erupted again, the police said.

During the argument, Jonas dealt the suspect a lash to his leg with the cutlass. This resulted in the suspect going into his mother’s yard and arming himself with a piece of wood which he allegedly used to inflict several lashes to Jonas’ head.

The  incident was videoed. Police are in possession of the video.