– Another miner wounded
A MINER and a bandit were killed and another miner wounded in a robbery attack at Konawaruk in Region Eight Sunday night.
Reported dead are dredge owner, Devon Thomas popularly called ‘Tall Boy’ of Mainstay, Essequibo and bandit Ossie Bourne of Block 22 Wismar, Linden. The wounded miner, Clifford Andrews, 23, of Chenapow, was yesterday air-dashed to the city and admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
He sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, a cut to the head and bites to the eye, which he received while fighting off one of the bandits, all of whom are reportedly known characters in the mining region.
Another bandit was reportedly shot in the shoulder, but this information could not have been confirmed by the Chronicle up to press time.
Thomas is said to be from the Essequibo Coast and his reputed wife is a Brazilian native, a source said.
The bandits attacked the miners when they were returning to camp Sunday night after watching the Brazil/Ivory Coast World Cup football match at Mousie Landing, Konawaruk. The bandits struck between 20:30h and 21:00h.
A relative of Andrews told the Chronicle that several miners and others had converged at the landing to watch the football match, following which there was some socialising.
A group, including Andrews and Thomas, though not belonging to the same camp, decided to head back to the mining area.
The relative said Andrews and Thomas were walking behind the others and shortly after, when they reached a dark stretch, they were pounced upon by the men.
According to the relative, Andrews said he heard a gunshot and during a scuffle a bandit bit him on the eyes, gun-butted him in the head and shot him in the chest before escaping.
Other persons in the area heard the gunshots and rushed over to find Thomas and Bourne dead.
The dead men were last night at the Mahdia Hospital mortuary.
Sources told the Chronicle it was believed that a bandit known as ‘Blackboy’ was shot in the shoulder, apparently by one of the men who was walking ahead of ‘Tall Boy’ and Andrews.
According to one source, ‘Mousie Landing’ – situated along the trail leading just before Mahdia, which is about 150 miles from Linden – and surrounding areas are known ‘hang-out’ spots for several criminals who are of interest to the Police.
Recently, Troy Hanover, also known as Troy Koster, ‘Baccoo’ and ‘Shine Rice’, of 114 Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, was brutally murdered during an argument with another man at ‘Mousie Landing’.  Hanover’s abdomen was cut open and there was a chop wound near his throat.
The proprietress of the place where the men were staying had left to make a report at the Mahdia Police Station and upon her return with the police found that her building was destroyed by fire.
Four men were subsequently taken into police custody to assist with the investigations.
Meanwhile, the (suspected) dead bandit, Bourne, was reportedly shot three times in the chest and back. One close friend said the man, who normally is seen around Linden riding his motorcycle, was expected in Linden sometime this week.
His older brother Brian related that he received a call from a friend at Mahdia yesterday morning around 6:00h, who advised that he make enquiries about Oswald but did not state any other details about him being shot.
When the Chronicle visited the home of his parents at Block 22 Wismar last night, his mother Anita Bourne was overwhelmed with grief and unable to speak.
His father Leonard Bourne said one of his sons, Brian, told him that a friend had called that morning and said “that something was wrong in the bush with Oswald and he should come in quickly.”
The dead man’s father said the caller knew what had happened and “whole day we were trying to get through to the police station at Mabura and at Mackenzie…”
Another friend said Brian had called him around 7:00h yesterday morning asking him when he was going back into the bush, and had he known earlier, he would have gone into the area once the gasolene was provided for, as he normally would transport things in for Ossie.
He said he would have been able to get a call to where Ossie was and know exactly what had happened.
Ossie’s older sister Yvette said “we haven’t got the truth, it is just hearsay and until my other brother (Carl) comes out from there, then we will know what exactly happened.” (Additional reporting by Joe Chapman)