A 21-year-old man has been charged for the murder of 78-year-old Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB) businessman, Tony Bishnauth, called “England Bank,” who was killed by armed bandits during his birthday celebration on March 13, 2020.

Sheldon Smith of Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Fort Wellington Magistrates Court and was not required to plead to the charge. He was remanded to prison until April 21, 2020.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that Bishnauth, aka ‘Uncle Tony’ of Lot 23 Stelling Road, Rosignol, was shot dead by one of three armed men while celebrating his 78th birthday outside his home around 23:15hrs on the day in question.

The businessman was seated outside his snackette at Stelling Road when the three approached the celebrants at the party on foot, pointed guns at them and told them not to move. One of them immediately shot the businessman in the head.

Another opened fire on Bobby Brijlall, a neighbour, who escaped with a slight graze from the bullet on the right side of his abdomen.

The third masked man opened fire on 23-year-old Mahendra Nagamootoo, hitting him three times – once on the arm, once on his side and once to his lower back when he attempted to flee the scene.

The men then demanded cash and jewellery; one of them rifled through the pockets of the fallen businessman and removed cash and a cellphone. They then robbed other persons at the party of cash and cell- phones and escaped by running into a street parallel to Stelling Road.

The police had issued a wanted bulletin for the arrest of Medellin Orlanda Evans and Carlos Evans, who are wanted questioning in relation to the murder.

According to the police, Medellin Evans, also called “Mello,” is of African descent. He was born on June 28, 1987, and his last known address is listed as Lot 61, Railway Line, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice (WBB).

Carlos Evans, called the “Beast,” was born on December 15, 1991. He too is of African descent and his address is listed as Lot 12 Section ‘C’ D’Edward Village, WBB.

The police in a release said anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the above named suspects, is asked to contact the police on 232-0291, 232-0313, 330-2222, 226-3650, 226-1326, 911 or the nearest police station.