Two teenagers accused of a gruesome fatal chopping of a Bush Lot, Berbice couple appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with murder and were remanded to prison. A third suspect, who is a former murder accused, is also expected to be charged.
Neeman Rafeek, 19, called ‘Shazam’ of Lot 5 Bush Lot New Housing Scheme and Gokun Mandanpaul, 18, called ‘Clown’ of 175 Block ‘D’ Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver who read the charge to them.
The duo is accused of murdering Doodnauth Arthur Rajkumar, 81, and Diane Chamanlall, 44, at their Lot 93 ‘A’ Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice home. According to the charge, the accused murdered Rajkumar and Chamanlall between the 8th and 9th of January.
As the charge was read to them, the duo stood motionless and showed no emotion. They were not represented by counsel and were remanded to prison and will have to return to court on February 3rd.
Stabroek News was told that former murder accused Rooplall Abrahim, 24, of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice would also be charged in connection with the murders.
Mandanpaul and Rafeek were captured separately on Saturday after the fatal attack on the couple and police have said they confessed their involvement in the crime as well as in the robbery and arson at Hope in which Anita Baichan was burnt to death. Murder and arson charges are expected to be filed against them in that case.
Abrahim was apprehended on Tuesday at Number 4 Village, West Coast Berbice, and police say he also confessed to both crimes.
Baichan was killed during a home invasion two Sundays ago in the wee hours of the morning. The men lit the house on fire after they did not receive a substantial amount of valuables and the woman burnt to death.
On Saturday morning, Rajkumar and Chamanlall were discovered with gaping wounds in pools of blood. They were taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where Rajkumar was pronounced dead on arrival and Chamanlall succumbed while receiving medical attention. Persons went to home after they were alarmed by unusual sounds coming from the house.
The bandits chopped the couple multiple times while demanding money but the elderly man and his wife did not hand over anything. A source had told Stabroek News that after the robbers demanded cash, they were told by the couple that they did not have any. One of the men then responded, “How y’all gon’ get shop and don’t have money?” The incensed men then continuously chopped the couple. As they packed items, the police arrived at the scene and the men scaled the fence and escaped.
