Deoram Sookchand, the husband of murdered cash crop farmer Pamela Kendall, was yesterday charged with killing her.
Sookchand, 59, called “Cakes,” had told police that Kendall was shot in her face during the invasion of their Number 45 Village, Corentyne home last week.
However, he was the one who ended up being arraigned in a city court for her murder.
Sookchand appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the indictable charge. It is alleged that on August 20th, at Number 45 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Sookchand, murdered Kendall, called “Pam.”
No further details about the charge were presented to the court. However, the court heard from Prosecutor Deniro Jones that the case file is incomplete. Jones added that investigations into the matter are still ongoing and statements are also outstanding. As a result, the unrepresented Sookchand was remanded to prison until September 14th, when the matter will be called at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.
While Sookchand had claimed that his wife was killed by an intruder during a home invasion that took place during a blackout, police investigators found holes in his story. Testing afterward revealed gunshot residue on the man’s hands, although he is not a licensed firearm holder.
Sookchand had said that he was in the bathroom when Kendall was shot. He explained that the couple had just gotten home and he had proceeded to the bathroom, which was about five feet away from where his wife was. The man had said that while he was in the bathroom, he heard his wife scream and then a loud explosion that he assumed to have been a gunshot. He said the assailant later fled without taking anything.
After being shot, Kendall ran over to her brother’s house for assistance. She called out to her nephews and then walked to a car, where she fell unconscious. She died while being transferred to the Skeldon Public Hospital.
Kendall’s death prompted a protest last week by fellow villagers, who were incensed over continuing criminal attacks across Berbice. They burned tires and blocked a section of the Number 45 Village Public Road to vent their frustration over the apparent rise in crime across Berbice.
