TODAY, December 8, 2021, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow is expected to sum up the evidence in the murder trial of Sylvester Vanderhyden who is accused of fatally shooting Melissa Payne during an armed robbery at Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara, in 2008.

Vanderhyden, of Block ‘A’ Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, has denied that, he, on November 5, 2008, at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, murdered Payne during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

He is represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas while prosecutor Lisa Cave is on record for the State.  Both parties gave their closing statements, following which, the judge adjourned the case until today, for her summation.

Following the summing up at the Demerara High Court, the judge will hand over the case to the 12-member jury who will retire to consider the verdict.

According to reports, on the day in question, at about 08:30 hrs, Payne, along with her reputed husband, Devon Thomas, were in a canter truck heading to Georgetown to conduct business.

As the couple approached Agricola, the truck encountered mechanical problems. Fraser came out and tried to fix the truck, while Payne stood and watched him.

A few moments later, one of the two bandits came up to them with a gun and demanded their money.  The armed man snatched Fraser’s gold chain and attempted to pull away Payne’s handbag.

Payne resisted and was fatally shot in her chest. The men then escaped with some $110,000 in cash that was in the woman’s bag, along with her jewellery.

In November 2017, Jermaine Savory, formerly of Second Street, Agricola, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a High Court judge after he was found guilty of killing Payne.

Savory had confessed to investigators that he had participated in the robbery but was not the trigger man. In 2016, after being on the run from the police, Vanderhyden was finally arrested and charged for the offence.