Former police sergeant Colin Bailey and another man, Colin Grant who were charged with the murder of businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress will now jointly face the capital offence.
The two men appeared in court yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at which point the decision was taken for the charges against the two to be taken jointly.
On February 24, Bailey, 53, of 63 South Vryheid’s Lust, was read the charge stating that between August 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, he murdered his wife Ramnaress called Kavita. In November 2015, Grant was also charged with the murder. They were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charges.
The last time the matter was called before the Chief Magistrate she had enquired of the prosecution whether the accused would be charged jointly. Prosecutor Neville Jeffers indicated that advice would first have to be sought.
Bailey and Grant who are currently on remand were given May 4 for report and disclosures in the matter.
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 had been called about the fire.
An autopsy later determined that she died as a result of a ruptured spleen and brain haemorrhaging.
