Latest update February 13th, 2025 4:37 PM
Latest News
- Brutus withdraws second lawsuit filed against the state
- GPHC fires senior doctor over stillbirth
- Despite not paying taxes, Exxon boss says profit sharing and royalty is same as giving Guyana tax
- ExxonMobil makes application for 8th oil project
- After Putin call, Trump says negotiations to end Ukraine war will start ‘immediately’
Three violent deaths, no answers
By Michael Jordan
We like to think that execution-style killings only came into vogue a few years ago. We like to see the eighties and nineties as ‘the good old days’, when it was inconceivable for bullet-riddled bodies to turn up anywhere. But let’s take a trip back to Sunday, December 27, 1998.
Sometime before daybreak, a series of explosions shattered the silence at West Watooka, Linden.
When dawn broke, it became clear to the community that the explosive sound had not been made by firecrackers.
Lying in front of a small house was the body of 30-year-old Watooka resident Roger Bristol. He had been shot to the back of the head, shoulder and side. At first glance, some policemen who went to the scene assumed that the victim was wearing a red cap.
On closer examination they realized that the top of his skull was missing, and the ‘cap’ was actually the bloodied remains of his head.
Behind the house, police discovered the body of Bristol’s pregnant reputed wife, Candace Wilson. She had been shot at close range behind the ear. 
Police learnt that the couple was last seen alive at the Library 2 disco in First Alley, Wismar, at around 03:00 hrs on Sunday, December 27. They reportedly left for home by taxi.
Police believe that the killers were waiting in ambush near the house when the couple returned.
It is alleged that as he was driving away, the taxi driver who had dropped the couple off heard the gunshots.
From all reports, Bristol traveled frequently to Barbados and had only returned to Guyana three days before he was executed.
Some residents recalled that two strangers had visited the area and were enquiring about Bristol’s whereabouts.
Police investigations suggested that the killing of the couple was linked to another brutal murder, which had occurred in Linden some five days earlier.
Then, the nude body of 18-year-old Montouth King was found in the vicinity of Millie’s Hideout, an old nightclub just outside of Amelia’s Ward. His head was shaven, his throat had been slit, and he had been shot in the head. King’s killers had left his gold jewellery on the body. There were also indications that the youth was tortured.
According to reports, King, who sold watches, had left home on December 18 to watch a football game but never returned.
And investigators were certain that they knew the motive for the three murders. In November, a popular Linden businessman alleged that persons made off with a large quantity of diamonds from his business premises.
It was alleged that shortly after, a group of men attacked the businessman at his home, stabbing him in the process.
The bandits allegedly also abducted the businessman’s wife, and he was forced to give them a large sum of cash in exchange for her release.
Detectives suspected that Bristol, his spouse and Montouth King were killed because someone believed that they had knowledge about the robberies at the businessman’s home.
According to another report, Bristol and the businessman had a falling out over money that the man allegedly owed Bristol.
Police had detained Bristol and some of his associates in connection with the robberies, and one man was charged.
After the three murders, police also questioned the businessman and his wife and others, but were never able to implicate them in the case.
A Lindener who was suspected to have been one of the hitmen, was said to be on the run several years ago, in connection with a murder attempt in the interior.
But Lindeners have indicated that they are wary about stirring up this old case, since they believe that many of the other key players in the three murders are still very much around.
If you have further information on this case or any other, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street office or by telephone.
We can be reached on telephone numbers 225-8465, 225-8491, or 225-8458. You need not disclose your identity.
You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address [email protected].
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
An Open Letter to the election observer missions
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-Later this year, you will arrive in Guyana as protectors of the integrity of our democracy.... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
