Shivnauth’s family is now pleading with the police to act quickly in re-arresting a suspect, whom they say could be easily identified by a cutlass left at the scene. Gopaul, one the Shivnauth’s children, is convinced that with the re-arrest of the suspect, who is known in the area, the investigation could be blown wide open.
Shivnauth was discovered dead in her Lot 66 Independence Street, La Grange home on the night of August 28. It is believed that the killing took place during the wee hours of the day and was committed by several people, including someone who is familiar with the area and the woman.
The perpetrators broke into the home where the woman lived alone and after gagging and beating her, left her to die.
Speaking to Stabroek News last week, Gopaul was distressed that there is no progress in the case although police in the division have been able to make breakthroughs in other crimes. “I upset yes because I want some justice fuh me mudda. The mastermind had to be somebody from this area…,” the distraught man said.
Although five people had been questioned in connection with the murder, Gopaul said, police are yet to make more arrests and when he visited the La Grange Police Station recently, investigators had nothing new to tell him. The man he was told the investigation is ongoing and the case will remain open.
He fears his mother’s death would be added to the long list of unsolved crimes that the police force is burdened with.
Gopaul recounted to this newspaper that Shivnauth’s niece saw when she went home with a taxi and entered her house. That was the last time she was seen alive. He said they were under the assumption that the woman had gone out because the padlock was on her door. However, after they did not see her for the entire day, they grew worried and decided to break into the house. It was then that the gruesome discovery was made.
Gopaul said his mother’s house was not located in a desolate area, but opined that residents might be afraid to come forward if they had any information.
Asked why he thought Shivnauth was killed, Gopaul explained that about two weeks before her death, relatives threw her a “big” birthday party and this may have led the perpetrators to believe that she had lots of jewellery and money. He expressed disgust that the perpetrators would have sexually assaulted his mother during the robbery.
Gopaul later explained that after the post-mortem examination, the family’s intention was to grant Shivnauth her wish and cremate her. However they had to opt for a burial instead because after police took a sample they advised them to take that course, in case exhumation was necessary.
The man added that they were told that the sample would be sent to Trinidad for testing but he is unsure if it ever left these shores.
The men who killed Shivnauth made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and a quantity of jewellery. Several persons from the area were detained and after being questioned were released. The post-mortem examination revealed that Shivnauth died of suffocation. Persons living in proximity to the woman’s home said they heard no sounds or suspected anything unusual during the time the old woman was being attacked.
