Police late yesterday afternoon released Ronny Totaram, the owner of the pack of dogs that allegedly mauled a security guard to death before turning on a passer-by, on $100,000 bail after they were advised that some more statements needed to be taken to complete the file.
The pilot and Ogle resident was scheduled to make a court appearance yesterday but Stabroek News understands that this has been rescheduled to Monday on the instruction of the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
A post-mortem examination conducted on the remains of COPS security guard Charles Roopchand yesterday morning revealed that he died from asphyxiation and multiple wounds due to dog bites.
Stabroek News was told that Totaram has already been charged but sources could not say if it was just for having possession of the animals or manslaughter.
Attorney-at-law Khemraj Ramjattan who is representing Totaram told this newspaper in an invited comment that his client was released on $100, 000 bail around 5 yesterday afternoon by ranks at the Sparendaam Police Station and has to report back there on Sunday.
He said that upon his release his client assisted ranks in getting his eight dogs which had been impounded at the station since Wednesday’s incident, to the police’s Canine Division, Eve Leary.
The defence counsel had earlier said that his client will have to be released on station bail since he could not be kept in custody beyond three days or 72 hours.
That would have ended yesterday.
He told this newspaper that he was advised that when the police went to the DPP they were told that some more statements had to be taken in order for the file to be completed.
This newspaper was informed that there are some gaps in the police’s case.
Contacted yesterday one of Roopchand’s relatives who did not want to be named said that she was told that the autopsy showed that there was no evidence that he was lacerated by another human being.
The woman told Stabroek News that the police and a vet were present at the autopsy. Arrangements are being made to bury Roopchand on Monday.
At the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court yesterday many of the man’s relatives and friends congregated outside the police station for hours as they waited for him to be taken up to the courtroom.
Around 1:30 pm word spread that Totaram would not be appearing in court.
Court was subsequently adjourned to Monday.
Just after 6 on Wednes- day morning, 53-year-old Roopchand was killed by a pack of dogs while Desire London, the wife of Bishop Philbert London and resident of Goedverwagting, ECD, was injured when two of the animals pounced on her as she walked along the Ogle Airstrip Road.
