The man suspected to have murdered Enmore farmer Gangaram Bharrat and buried him in a shallow grave in his backyard was yesterday apprehended by police at Berbice along with a female accomplice.
Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker confirmed that the suspect, identified only as “Joel,” 23, and a woman were arrested. Whittaker was unable to provide any further details.
Stabroek News was told that the two were spotted at Corentyne, Berbice and were suspected to have been preparing to flee to neighbouring Suriname when they were nabbed around 4:30pm.
Bharrat, known as ‘Bumpy’, a farmer of Lot 399 10th Street, Foulis Enmore, East Coast Demerara, had been missing since Friday last and was last seen drinking in the company of the suspect at his home, four corners away from where Bharrat lived.
Relatives reported the matter and further insisted that police accompany them to the 14th Street house—where Bharrat was last seen alive—which was found locked up and deserted. Upon further checks at the back of the yard, they noticed that some of the soil was disturbed and they decided to dig and this led them to the discovery of Bharrat’s body.
Police Commissioner (AG) Leroy Brumell yesterday told reporters that suspicion heightened among the dead man’s relatives and friends after the prime suspect was seen hurrying away from the area on Tuesday.
When contacted yesterday, Bharrat’s nieces, Devika and Debbie Persaud, both indicated that they had not heard of the suspect’s capture but said that if the report was true, they would be relieved. “I think is a good thing because they could get punish for whatever they do,” Devika said, while Debbie added that she was very happy with the news.
She further stated that a post-mortem examination had been performed on Bharrat’s body but the results had not yet been released to the family by the police.
Only a week ago, the body of 50-year-old Joan Durant was found buried in an unfinished bathroom of a house at Melanie North.
Her husband, Gordon Leslie Durant had led police to the scene where her decomposing remains were stumbled upon by the lawmen.
He was charged with his wife’s murder and was on Friday remanded to prison until July 31.
