Two West Berbice men are to stand trial for the murder of a woman who was burned to death in her home at Plantation Hope on January 3, this year during the course of a robbery.
Magistrate Rhondell Weaver concluded on August 9, at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court that a prima facie case had been made out against Rooplall Abrahim, 24, of Rosignol Village and Gocoul Madanpaul, 18, of 175 Block ‘D’ Bath Settlement. Abrahim and Madanpaul are to face the Berbice Assizes.
The two men had been charged on January 15 at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court, with murder committed on 49-year-old Anita Baichan and were remanded to prison. During the subsequent preliminary inquiry, Baichan’s son, who was a victim of the robbery, was one of the nine witnesses who presented evidence to the court on behalf of the state.
According to reports, two bandits who were armed with cutlasses had bound and gagged Baichan in her home at Plantation Hope, before setting the house on fire. Baichan’s son was also bound and gagged, but had managed to escape.
