Almost two years and a half after his common-law wife was found dead in the garage of her Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home, ex-sergeant Colin Bailey was yesterday arrested for the killing and is currently in police custody.
This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum who told Stabroek News that Bailey was arrested at his Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home during the period of yesterday by ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He is expected to be charged tomorrow.
Sirmattie Ramnaress, a 36-year-old businesswoman, was found dead on the morning of August 31, 2013 with a stab wound and injuries to her head and body in the garage of her Diamond home. While petrol was strewn all over her house, it was the bond at the back of the yard that was set alight and destroyed. The woman’s body was discovered after the fire service was called about the fire.
An autopsy later determined that she died as a result of a ruptured spleen and brain haemorrhaging.
Bailey had told this newspaper that he was invited to CID Headquarters during early last year to give a detailed statement, including about his 21-year relationship with Ramnaress as well as his whereabouts on the day that she was found dead.
He had said he took a long time to provide a statement since police were concentrating on getting statements from Ramnaress’s relatives and wanted a detailed statement from him.
On June 22, last year, he along with another police officer, Paul Paddy were charged with corruptly collecting $300,000 as inducement for the release of a prisoner Kissoondat Premsook, on May 7, whilst they were employed as agents of the government at the Vigilance Police Station.
Bailey was additionally charged with receiving from Premsook $50,000 on June 15, as inducement for not charging him at the said police station.
