MINER and television technician, Huntley Mickle Junior, blazed into a human torch just hours after he had promised his overseas-based mother, Agnes Howard, that he would be travelling from Essequibo to Georgetown to see her.

That telephone call was made on Christmas Day and on the following night, he was seen running at Ikawan, towards the Cuyuni River, engulfed in flames.

Businesswoman Mickla Jones said it was about 23:25hrs when she was awakened by the barking dogs, and she saw Huntley on fire.
The woman recounted that she managed to overtake him, and wrapped him in a blanket, extinguishing the flames.

Meanwhile, this newspaper was reliably informed that efforts were made to seek medical attention from the Brazilians, but this was not forthcoming.

As a result of the remoteness of the location, the 41-year-old man was unable to secure any medical attention locally, and succumbed some 14 hours later as he was being taken to Bartica.

According to information, the father of two had an altercation earlier in the day with his assailant.

His brother, Collie Mickle of New Amsterdam, told the Guyana Chronicle that there was some ‘hard talk’ among the men who were consuming alcohol earlier in the day.
As a result, the assailant threatened to return and ‘deal with Huntley’.

But he took it for granted. So he retired to bed, and was awakened by the barking dogs, and after opening the door to his camp, a bucket of gasoline was thrown on him and he was set on fire. Meanwhile, this reporter was told that Huntley Mickle operated two pumps while in the ‘backdam’, but was forced out after the Brazilians took possession of the land.

Thereafter, he watched over the possessions of Quamy Liverpool.

According to information, Mickle was unemployed at the time of the incident, and someone had promised to pay his passage so that he could have seen his mother in the city.

Meanwhile, at her Amsville Housing Scheme home, Mickle’s daughter Stacy, 18, vehemently denied that it was her father who had met such a horrible death.

“I did not believe when my neighbour first told me. I told her it was a lie. But after contact was made at Bartica and Parika, then I believed. My father was caring. Whenever he gets money he would send. I am saddened by his passing, especially since he did not see his first grandchild who is now 17 months old”.

Huntley Mickle, formerly of New Amsterdam Stelling Road and Angoy’s Avenue, leaves to mourn, among others, his parents Huntley Mickle Snr and Agnes, his ten siblings, daughters Stacy and Cherris, and granddaughter Saraha.
The body is currently at Lyken Funeral Home in Georgetown awaiting a post mortem.

Police investigations are continuing. The suspect remains at large.