N/A businessman arraigned on murder charge

Apr 23, 2014 News

Popular New Amsterdam businessman and remigrant Charles Bristol also known as Charles Henry, ‘Wheels’ or ‘Charlie’, of Main and Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, was yesterday charged with the capital offence of murder.

Charles Bristol (second left) outside the Albion Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Bristol, 52, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court and was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.
According to Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sheriff, the licenced firearm holder, on Wednesday last, April 16, at High Dam, Caracas, West Canje, Berbice, shot and killed Errol Lindo, 51, during an altercation over land.
Bristol’s attorney Horatio Edmonson asked the court for an early date for the commencement of the trial. Bristol was remanded to prison until next Monday, April 28, when the matter will be heard again at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
A post mortem examination was conducted on Lindo’s body yesterday at the New Amsterdam Hospital where it was revealed that the man died from shock and hemorrhage due to multiple gunshot wounds.
The autopsy, which was conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Vivekanand Bridgemohan, revealed that the deceased received three gunshot wounds. One to the left leg, another to the left side of the body which did not cause much damage while the third was lodged in the upper chest – that bullet was removed during the autopsy.
The incident stemmed from an ongoing feud between the businessman and some residents over the illegal occupation of his land.
According to information, Henry has been for years having problems with a number of persons who have been squatting on the land and had been refusing to remove, despite many court orders and notices of removal.
On the day in question he and some workmen were in the process of dismantling a house which allegedly belongs to Lindo. It is alleged that the enraged man was shot after he ran into the yard and attacked the businessman with an axe.
Lindo was known to the authorities and had abandoned the house for about two months and was living in Black Bush Polder with his relatives.
During the dismantling process, residents in the area telephoned Lindo’s sister who arrived on the scene and an altercation reportedly ensued between her, the land owner and the men breaking the house. Lindo, who was subsequently informed, arrived and a squabble started between him and the businessman when he was allegedly shot. He was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed around 20:45 hrs.
Henry and his workmen were subsequently confronted by a hostile crowd that gathered at the scene. The men fled and Henry sought refuge in a nearby residence. His silver-grey Toyota Carina 192, bearing registration number PGG 4048, was burnt and overturned. He had to be rescued by the police.
Residents in the area staged a protest through the streets of New Amsterdam on Thursday calling for justice.
Lindo was fingered in the disappearance of a seven months pregnant neighbourhood policewoman, Gould Marcell Amsterdam called ‘Massa’, 37, a mother of three. The woman who lived at Caracas Vryheid, West Canje, Berbice, disappeared last year and has not been seen or heard from since.
Lindo, who it is reported was one of her children’s father, was taken into custody for a number of days.