One of two men wanted by police over the murder of two miners at the Nassano Backdam, North West District, on Christmas Eve, has surrendered.
Thomas Kyte called ‘Taco’, 36, of Matthews Ridge, North West District, Region One, turned himself in accompanied by his attorney, Bernard DaSilva, yesterday at the Matthews Ridge Police Station. Wanted bulletins were issued for Kyte and 50-year-old Kurtland Damon called ‘Cartoe’, of Pomeroon, Region Two and Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), Region Four. The men are wanted for questioning in relation to the murders of Sherwin Goddette, 29, a gold miner of Dredge Creek in the Upper Pomeroon, and his nephew, Shawn France, 21, a gold miner from Akawini Creek, Pomeroon. Two persons, Devor Stohl called ‘Jubbu’, and Hosea Sandy, were injured during the chaos that claimed the men’s lives.
This newspaper reported that a miner, who was among the group in the ruckus, told investigators that Damon, who is Stohl’s father, and Thomas Kyte attacked them while they were walking back to their camp. The two men in retaliation stabbed Sandy in his back and left arm and fatally stabbed Goddette and France.
According to police, on Christmas Eve, the victims left their camp at around 11 am and went to a shop at the landing and purchased rum. While at the shop, France and a bartender got into a heated argument which resulted in him throwing a champagne bottle to the ground. A scuffle ensued and France who was armed with a scissors began attacking everyone in the shop.
When the enraged man attempted to stab Alvon Claus, a 35-year-old gold miner, who is also a licensed holder of a .32 Taurus pistol, Claus discharged a single round in the air. The fighting then ceased. It was reported that Stohl sustained a cut to his abdomen which caused his intestines to protrude and on Christmas Day he was air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for emergency medical attention and was admitted. The deceased men’s bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition when the police arrived. The bodies of the deceased were buried and the general location of the graves marked, with a view to later exhumation.
Goddette’s father, Eugene Goddette, told this newspaper that his family wants justice for the men’s murders. Eustace France, the father of Shawn explained that he went to the backdam and identified the men. He said he wants “satisfaction” because it seemed like the police hadn’t been taking the murders seriously. According to the man, persons are not speaking about it and he said that the police didn’t arrive at the scene until long after the report was made. However, according to Police Commander of Region One, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud, the location is some 80 miles from the main road and requires a helicopter to access the site. He related that ranks had to use the trail which posed some challenges and an officer was forced to swim across the creek after a bridge was washed away.
