Two jointly charged with gunning down gold miners in North West District

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 October 2016, 17:33 by Denis Chabrol

Two men appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan and were jointly charged for two counts of murder at North West District.

The first allegation against Roberto Miggins and Quasi Benjamin is that between October 12 and 13, 2016, at Ten Mile Backdam, they murdered Mario Pozzer.

The second charge reads that the two allegedly murdered Hilton ‘Hilary’ Smith on October 14, 2016 at Mazawini Backdam, NWD.

The two were not required to plea to the charge when it was read to them at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

Miggins, 25-years-old, was represented by Attorney at Law Euclyn Comes, while Attorney Leslie Sobers represented Benjamin, a 32-year-old father of two.

The matter has been transferred to the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate Court and will be called again on November 2, 2016.

43-year-old Pozzer’s bullet-riddled body was found on October 13, 2016 by passerby. Since he was found next to the ATV he was using, it appeared as though he was travelling to the Backdam when he was gunned down.

Smith, on the other hand, was shot and killed one day later, during a camp invasion at Mazawini, Port Kaituma. According to reports, gunmen with high-powered rifles entered the camp and opened fire. Smith’s body was found after the gunmen escaped with a quantity of raw gold.

The two accused have reportedly confessed to both crimes.