By David Papannah
A Corentyne store owner was found dead yesterday morning with his throat slit at his business premises.
News of the murder of Winston Ragnauth, 56, called ‘Tony,’ of Lot 2 Whim Public Road, Corentyne, sent shockwaves across the Corentyne coast after the gruesome discovery of his body was made by family members.
Up to press time, two persons were held by police in connection with Ragnauth’s murder, which is believed to be linked to a robbery at his grocery and liquor store, where his body was found in a pool of blood. It is suspected that he was killed sometime between Tuesday night and the wee hours of Wednesday morning at Ragnauth’s Grocery & Liquor Store.
When Stabroek News arrived at the scene, police officers and detectives were on the scene conducting investigations.
The dead man’s wife, Zira Ragnauth, the education officer for primary schools in Region 6, told Stabroek News that their son, Emmanuel, who is a policeman, made the discovery around 7am.
Mrs Ragnauth said that another police officer had alerted her son that he was calling at the shop but no one answered. As a result, her son went to the shop and she heard him scream out for his older brother.
She then rushed out and went over to the shop, but she was sent back home by other family members who did not want her to view the scene.
According to Mrs Ragnauth, she was told that when her sons entered the shop, they found the inventory cleared out, while their father was in the room. She was unable to say how persons may have gained entry into the shop.
She and her husband had separated but they still communicated and his shop is located in front of her house. She said the last time she saw him was on Tuesday night, around 7pm, when he was cutting up chicken.
Both she and neighbours noted that they had not heard any unusual sounds throughout the night.
They said that the dogs in the area barked loudly and for quite some time, but they did not pay attention to the barking since it is a norm.
Ragnauth’s wife noted that she never heard him complain about having any problem with anyone. He was described as a well-mannered man who worked for what he had.
The body is currently being stored at Ramoo’s Funeral Home and a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed shortly.
The man is survived by his wife and three sons.
