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Aug 29, 2018 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
An eyewitness to the shooting incident which led to the death of travel agent Reona Payne was a no-show when the Preliminary Inquiry, (PI)of Army Captain, Orwain Sandy continued yesterday.
Sandy, a former Captain in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was charged for the murder of Payne. The incident occurred on March 31, last, at Alexander Village, Georgetown. Payne, who reportedly sustained 14 gunshot wounds about her body, died on the spot.
Sandy surrendered at the Ruimveldt Police Station immediately after the shooting. He was later charged with murder and is currently facing a Preliminary Inquiry for before Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrate Court.
At the continuation of the PI yesterday, Police Detective Navinder Persaud was called to the witness stand.
Persaud testified that he obtained a statement from Royston Smith, an eyewitness to the shooting. However, at the end of his testimony, calls made for the said witness to enter an appearance in Court went unanswered. Smith did not attend the hearing.
Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves told the Court that he has three more witnesses to call before closing the case. Gonsalves noted that among the three witnesses to conclude the PI is Malcolm Flue, who testified before. Flue was expected to return to court to be cross-examined but failed to do so. The Prosecutor noted that attempts made to contact the witness has so far, proven futile.
As such, an arrest warrant has been issued for Flue. Sandy, who was the Aide-de-Camp to the Chief-of-Staff, is currently interdicted from duty. He surrendered to lawmen shortly after he allegedly shot Payne several times.
It was reported that Sandy and Payne were seated in a car when the two got into a heated argument. Sandy allegedly shot the woman several times about her body, killing her instantly. He then drove himself to the station where he reportedly told the police what had transpired. He also handed in his weapon and was placed in custody.
Payne, who was a mother of three, and Sandy were not married, but were living together for about three years. The two had launched a business, Prestige Taxi Service, at the recently concluded Wedding Exposition.
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