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left in August 2021 and first since Xavi was appointed manager in November 2021.

Meanwhile, Espanyol are in danger of a second relegation in four seasons from La Liga after a ninth league defeat in 11 games.

They are four points from safety with four matches left.

Xavi delivers in first full season

Barcelona’s players will have to wait to get their hands on the trophy but they celebrated after the full-time whistle before making a hasty retreat to the dressing room after some Espanyol fans dashed on to the pitch.

Barca trailed Real Madrid by three points after losing 3-1 away to them on October 16, while they made a disappointing exit from the Champions League after losing three of their six group games.

But Xavi, who won eight La Liga titles during a distinguished 17-year career playing in Barca’s first team, has delivered in his first full season in charge.

It was a particularly emotional night for captain Sergio Busquets, who has confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after 18 years at the club.

This is the 34-year-old’s ninth league title with Barca but the future looks promising for the side, with Balde and Kounde scoring their first La Liga goals in Barcelona colours.

Barcelona will move out of their Nou Camp home next season while the stadium is redeveloped.

But fans will get a chance to celebrate the club’s first major trophy since 2020-21 during their last two home games – against Real Sociedad on Saturday and Mallorca on May 28. (BBC Sport)

two suspects were found. The dead man is believed to be one of the suspects who was involved in the case.

The News Room was reliably informed that on Sunday ranks went to a house at Block 22 Wismar, Linden at about 01:45 hrs on Sunday where the two suspects were found. Another mam, whose identity is unknown, was also found lying naked on the bathroom floor with multiple chops about his body.

On Saturday, Regional Police Commander of Division #10, Kurleigh Simon, said two persons are in Police custody in connection with the home invasion that claimed the lives of Johnson Bowen, 87, and Manuel Dos Santos, 58, both of Block 22, Wismar, Linden. The men were shot dead after they tried to fend off masked gunmen who invaded their home during the wee hours of Saturday.

Upon arriving at the hideout where the men retreated to, the Police observed that the windows of the building were all secured by locks. The building has two main entry and exit doors. The Police found the lower part of the door at the western side of the building was wrenched off.

After entering the building, a cutlass was found near one of the doors, while a blue and grey haversack and several pieces of clothes were also found. It was also there that they found the body – slim, fair in complexion and about 5’5’’ in height. The body was examined by the crime scene rank and he observed a chop to the right side of the man’s shoulder, one to his forehead, one to the upper right side of his back, one to the center of his back, and one to the lower right side of his back.

The scene was photographed and processed. The area was canvased for CCTV cameras, but none was seen. The body was later transported to the Linden Hospital Complex, where the man was pronounced dead by Doctor Roberts. The body was escorted to the De Jetsco funeral home awaiting the post mortem examination.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, confirmed that the fatal shooting occurred sometime between 04:00 hrs and 04:15 hrs. Police were on the hunt for three masked men, two of whom were armed with guns. Reports are the dead men lived together with Dos Santos’ wife and three children.

The News Room understands that the two men and Valdeir Dos Santos, Manoel’s son, tried to fend off the robbers. Another relative, 20-year-old nephew Denzil Roberts, who resides next door, also came over to the house in an effort to help the family.

Eventually, the four men armed themselves with cutlasses and chopped the armed suspects. At this point, the suspects tried to escape but Manuel then rushed through the back door chopping one of the suspects, who discharged several rounds in his direction causing him to collapse.

After the men escaped, Bowmen’s body was found lying in a crouching position in the living room.

Wind Coach Mahendra Persaud compliments the Wogart Trophy winner, Peter Persaud on a fine shoot that piloted Guyana to championship honours (Photo: Franklin Wilson)

It was a vintage performance by the Guyanese who had lost to host nation Jamaica last year by a single point. However, this year, the team was determined not to let anyone come remotely close and from the first range, the dye was virtually cast.

Captain Fields and Roberto Tiwari each dropped five points out of the possible 150 and reigning Individual champion Braithwaite dropped six to ensure that from the start, 300-yard range, a solid foundation was set which the team built on at the 500 yards and 600 yards ranges.

At 300 yards, no Guyanese shooter went below 44 points, and when the final shot rang out and the scores tallied, Guyana was well ahead with 375 points and 25 V-Bulls, with the closest nation being the host with 365 points and 19 V-Bulls.

Captain Dylan Fields also put on a commanding performance, which helped to win back the WIBFSC Short Range championship for Guyana (Photo: Franklin Wilson)

At 500 yards, the Guyanese took it up a few notches, led by Peter Persaud’s possible, 50.4, tallied 378 points along with 21 Vs, the home team again being the closest six points back. The Antiguans fought bravely, but the deficit was way too much to overcome, as the Guyanese were very focused and determined to reclaim the trophy.

The 600 yards range produced another fabulous shoot from the Guyanese as they fired their way to 366 points and 15 Vs, another unbeatable score that propelled them to victory at this 2023 edition of the competition, organised by the Antigua and Barbuda Rifle Association on behalf of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council.

Guyana tallied 1,119 points along with 61 Vs, the most points and Vs by any nation at this year’s competition. Next was Antigua and Barbuda with 1,099.53 followed by Canada (1,091.59) and Jamaica (1,028.41), who eclipsed Barbados on Vs (34), as both ended with the same points.

Guyana’s Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle on hearing the news that Guyana won, immediately called Captain Fields to express the nation’s delight on behalf of Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.

Ninvalle told Fields and the team members that Guyana is very proud of their achievement in showing the rest of the Caribbean that the country is indeed the best in this sport at the individual and team levels.

He promised that the Ministry and the National Sports Commission will work closely with the GuyanaNRA to further advance the sport.

Guyana is slated to host the 2024 edition of the WIFBSC Championship, which will also include the Long-Range Competition.

Meanwhile, the President of the WIFBSC, Major Nelson, offered congratulations to the Guyana team from the Council and Jamaica.

Team work between the respective Wind Coaches and shooters resulted in an almost flawless display of marksmanship by the Guyanese shooters (Photo: Franklin Wilson)

Captain Fields spoke on behalf of his charges: “The result was proof that the programme that was decided upon after Jamaica was the correct one. I was confident that this team was well prepared and as such, the result was inevitable. I am happy for Guyana and the people, the government, and the companies that have stood behind us. This win is for them. I also want to say congrats to Peter Persaud on winning the Wogart trophy.”

The GuyanaNRA is extending sincere gratitude to the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Olympic Association, Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., Queensway Security Service Inc., DHL, Citizens Bank, Sterling Products and Star Party Rentals for the making the trip to Antigua possible.

Shardabacchus@newsroom.gy

Brian Richard, the man who was charged on Friday with the murder of educator and comedian, Kirwyn Mars, popularly known as ‘Sir Mars’, confessed to the crime claiming that he acted in self-defense.

In his confession video, which was shared exclusively with the News Room, the suspect details his actions after Mars allegedly made sexual advances towards him.

Brian Richard in his confession video

“We had a scuffle…I try fah defend me self…I had two beer bottle inside the car. One did done empty; the other one…after he (Mars) come fah hold me and kiss me up all pun me neck all…Eventually, I didn’t like it, I just tek the glass bottle and lash he to he head,” Ricard told detectives in the video interview.

Richard further noted that during the scuffle, he stabbed Mars several times.

He, however, noted that Mars being crushed by the vehicle was an accident. According to Richard, Mars went behind the car to retrieve what he suspected to be a cutlass from the trunk.

At the same time, Richard said he went to the driver’s side of the vehicle to get his cell phone, when he “accidentally touched something” causing the vehicle to reverse and pin Mars into a fence at Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Richard claimed that he does not know to drive so he could not have taken any action to save Mars.

As such, he said he left the scene, boarded a taxi and went home.

Richard’s video confession is among other evidence seen by the News Room, including a signed statement provided to the Police by his wife.

Her statement contradicts the account she provided to the media on Friday outside the courthouse as she and other relatives maintained that Richard is innocent of the crime.

They rejected the Police’s version that Richard confessed to the crime, noting that he cannot read and therefore, cannot knowingly sign a confession statement.

Richard’s wife told the News Room that Mars dropped her husband home at around 21:00 hrs on the night of the murder; Mars was killed at around 22:30hrs.

WIFE FOUGHT WITH RICHARD OVER MARS

Meanwhile, in her written statement to the Police, the wife said that two months ago, she and Richard had an argument over him going out with Mars.

Dead: Kirwyn Mars

On May 7 when Mars was murdered, the woman said Richard was at home eating when Mars called him to go out and she insisted that he stay home. As a matter of fact, she threw water on him twice after he got dressed to go out but Richard then allegedly hit her in the face.

The woman further noted that she went to the Police station to file a report and upon returning, she noticed Richard was not at home.

Phone records seen by the News Room revealed that the woman called Richard twice on the night in question at 22:00 hrs; Richard did not answer the first call but he declined the second one.

Photographs of Sir Mars and Richard show them arriving and leaving the Green City Bar located at the corners of D’Urban Street and Vlissengen Road several hours before.

Mars was found pinned between his car and an apartment building fence.

The Police, in its official report on Monday, revealed that two knives were recovered at the scene.

Detectives have since retrieved Richard’s clothing and footwear, which he allegedly washed; they have been sent for analysis.

a man and his son-in-law on Saturday.

Regional Police Commander of Division #10, Kurleigh Simon hopes that the investigation will be completed soon.
“We are hoping that we could speedily resolve the investigation and brng the perpetrators to justice,” Commander Simon said.
The police is also encouraging the community to make efforts and support the police with the investigation.
Johnson Bowen, 87, and Manuel Dos Santos, 58, a gold miner, both of Block 22, Wismar, Linden were shot dead after they tried to fend off masked gunmen, who invaded their home during the wee hours of Saturday.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, confirmed that the fatal shooting occurred sometime between 04:00 hrs and 04:15 hrs. Police were on the hunt for three masked men, two of whom were armed with guns.

Reports are the dead men lived together with Dos Santos’ wife and three children.

The News Room understands that the wife told detectives that she and her husband were sleeping when she was awoken by noise coming from their living room.

Upon checking, the woman saw the three suspects tugging her elderly father while one of her sons, Valdeir Dos Santos was lying on the floor. Her 20-year-old nephew, Denzil Roberts, who resides next door, also came over to the house and choked one of the suspects who was at the time standing armed over Bowen and Valdeir.
Eventually the four men armed themselves with cutlasses and chopped the armed suspects. At this point, the suspects tried to escape but Manuel then rushed through the back door chopping one of the suspects, who discharged several rounds in his direction causing him to collapse. After the men escaped, Bowmen’s body was found lying in a crouching position in the living room.