Survivor remains hospitalised, suspect still at large

Jun 23, 2010 News

Robbery/shootout at Mahdia…

Twenty-one-year-old Clifford Andrews of Chenapau who was shot during a robbery in Mahdia is said to be recovering well as police continue their investigation.
Up to press time yesterday, the injured man was still a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
And the dredge owner who was shot and killed during the incident has since been identified as David Courtman of Mainstay.

Dead: David Courtman

In the meantime, the other suspect in the robbery/shootout remains at large.
Around midnight on Sunday, a robbery went horribly wrong when two men, one of whom was said to be the brother of a boutique owner in Mahdia, attacked another businessman (Courtman) in the lawless Mousie Creek landing in the Konawaruk area.
The ensuing shootout left a robber and the dredge owner dead and a third man (Andrews) wounded.
Police identified the dead bandit as 35-year-old Oswald Bourne, of Block 22 Wismar.
Mousie Creek is located some 30 miles from Mahdia, and police confirmed that there is a proliferation of illegal guns in the area.
According to reports coming out of the area, Courtman and Andrews were heading back to their camp from the landing when Bourne and an accomplice known as ‘Blacka’ ambushed them.
However, Courtman was carrying a firearm, and a gun battle broke out between the dredge owner and the robbers.
One report stated that Courtman succeeded in disarming Bourne and shooting him dead. The report also stated that Bourne’s accomplice shot and killed Courtman then turned the gun on Andrews. He shot Andrews in the chest, but the injured man managed to take cover and avoid further injury, while the suspect fled the scene.
Kaieteur News understands that Andrews was carrying a small quantity of raw gold. However, it is unclear whether Courtman, who appeared to be the main target, had any valuables in his possession.