Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 08, 2015 News
– claims victim had recruited him, others to murder police boyfriend
Two years of tireless investigation have finally led detectives from the police force’s Major Crimes Unit to the killers of businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress.
The woman was clubbed to death in her Diamond, East Bank Demerara home in 2013.
The man they have in custody is the victim’s 32-year-old next door neighbor, who has told police that the businesswoman had asked him and others to kill her reputed husband, Police Sergeant Colin Bailey, but the gang opted to kill and rob her instead.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the suspect gave the bizarre confession after detectives arrested him on Friday night and recovered items that the killers had stolen from the murdered woman’s home.
Blanhum said that the recovered items included a laptop computer and a diamond ring, which were identified as belonging to Ramnaress.
The Crime Chief said that detectives are trying to locate two other suspects who were part of the plot. He said that the suspect identified one of the killers as Paul Bascom, who was among two bandits slain by police in December 2013, allegedly during a bungled robbery in Grove, East Bank Demerara.
Yesterday, Blanhum heaped praise on his ranks from the Major Crimes Unit for solving another major case.
“I want to take this opportunity to give recognition to the investigators whose diligence and efficiency were the driving force in solving yet another major crime.
“These ranks were able to achieve this success because they have implemented a number of techniques which were taught to them during the many training courses they would have benefitted from.”
MURDER PLOT REPORTEDLY BACKFIRED
Sirmattie Ramnaress, also known as ‘Pavita’, was found lying face down in the garage of her 21st Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme residence on Saturday, August 31, 2013.
A postmortem revealed the 46-year-old businesswoman was stuck repeatedly to the head and body, and attempts had been made to strangle her.
A bond at the back of her property was also torched.
Kaieteur News understands that the person the police have detained, claimed that Sirmattie Ramnaress had contacted him to kill her partner, Police Sergeant Bailey.
“So he discussed it with the other suspects, and they decided that they would rob her instead,” an official said.
The night before the murder, the gang, including Paul Bascom, slept at the neighbour’s home.
Claiming that he only acted as a lookout, the neighbour said that the following day, (August 31), Bascom called out to Sirmattie Ramnaress and told her that “a big snake” had crawled into her yard. He said that the businesswoman came into her yard and Bascom offered to help to find the ‘snake.’
But when Ramnaress opened her gate, the men entered her yard and killed her.
The killers then made off with the victim’s diamond ring, computer, cash and other valuables.
Investigators had initially considered Ramnaress’s partner, Sergeant Bailey to be a suspect in her murder. They had even taken DNA samples from him.
Some detectives even believed that the crime scene was staged, down to the ransacking of the home, the dousing of the property with fuel, and the placing of three bottles of beverages on a table to imply that three intruders had entered the house.
The fact that the surveillance tapes from the victim’s house were missing also led some to suggest that someone who was familiar with the premises was the perpetrator.
At the time, one of the businesswoman’s close relatives had dismissed any suggestions that robbers killed Ms. Ramnaress.
Nadira Budhoo, an overseas-based sister of the slain woman, told Kaieteur News that she knows the identity of her sibling’s killer and has provided an attorney with information about the matter.
“We know who it (the killer) is. They will catch the perpetrator if they work with the evidence.”
Ms. Budhoo alleged that her sister had expressed fear for her safety, but declined to go into details.
Yesterday, a relieved Sergeant Bailey said that he had always felt that he would have been exonerated.
“I had a feeling all the time, because I knew that I was not part of it. I knew some time it would all come to light.”
But up to yesterday, close relatives of the slain woman dismissed any suggestion that she had plotted to kill her partner.
One relative suggested that the detained neighbour may not be telling the entire story, and wants police to continue their investigators to unearth the entire truth behind the businesswoman’s death.
Caption: Sirmattie Ramnaress
Caption: Exonerated: Police Sergeant Colin Bailey
Caption: The house in which Sirmattie Ramnaress was slain
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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