Relatives grateful for capture of Agricola shooting suspects

Nov 09, 2008 News

The relatives of 27-year-old Melissa Payne are lauding the Guyana Police Force for their swift action which led to the capture of her killers.

Melissa Payne

Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday was Debora Payne, the dead woman’s mother. Debora says that she is grateful that her daughter’s killers have been brought to justice.

The woman further told this newspaper that it gives her some sort of closure, knowing that someone has being arrested.

Melissa’s relatives remember her as a loving person who went out of her way to lend a helping hand.
Debora Payne said, “Losing a child is an unbearable pain. These circumstances make it sadder.”

Debora says that she would always question the circumstances surrounding when someone is shot, and what may have caused the incident.

The distraught mother says that, ever since Wednesday morning, she has kept questioning what she did wrong for her daughter to receive such a gruesome death.

She added that she now knows what the feeling is like. She said that Melissa was seen by another relative earlier that fateful morning in her garden, so it was very hard for them to believe that she was dead.

The woman said, with tears in her eye, her daughter did everything for her and this has left an indelible mark on her heart.

Melissa Payne, 27, of 56 Den Amstel, was brutally killed after she attempted to put up a fight with gunmen who carried out a brazen robbery at Agricola Public Road, last Wednesday morning at around 8:30am.
The gunmen escaped with $110,000 and a quantity of gold jewellery from the woman’s handbag.

At the time of the robbery, she was in the company of a male friend, who said that they were heading to town to conduct business.

The man said that they were approaching Agricola when the Canter truck in which they were travelling encountered mechanical problems. After spending a few minutes fixing the truck, he was attacked by one of the bandits, who relieved him of his gold jewellery.

Upon seeing what was taking place, Melissa attempted to run but was confronted by another gun-toting bandit.

According to the male friend, the two armed bandits saw Melissa’s handbag and demanded it. He added that Melissa was a little hesitant, but later complied.

The man said that Melissa was taking off her bag but the strap became entangled, and this may have angered the bandits. He said that all he heard was a single gunshot, and he saw Melissa crouching to the ground.

She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Pandemonium broke out at the Georgetown Public Hospital, as her relatives confirmed their worst fears at the hospital. News of her sudden death sent shock waves throughout the community and among the family.

A 21-year-old from Agricola was charged on Friday for the murder of Melissa Payne.
The youth, identified as Jermine Savory, of 97 Second Street, Agricola, was remanded to prison after he made his court appearance before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

The accused was arrested at his Agricola home by the police, who were acting on information. According to a source, the suspect admitted to being involved in the robbery, but denied being the “trigger” man.

Savory claimed that his accomplice was the person who shot Payne, and the same alleged killer escaped with the money that they had robbed Payne of.

Two other persons are at present in police custody assisting with investigations.