The man accused of fatally stabbing Plaisance shopkeeper Sharon Burnett on Monday morning is presently hospitalised but is expected to be charged in connection with the crime today.
Contacted for an update last evening, Regional Commander Royston Andries-Junor told Stabroek News that the suspect, who suffers from epilepsy, is currently hospitalised under police guard. He added that once the suspect is discharged today, he will make a court appearance.
Burnett, a mother of three of Lot 47 Graham Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed to death around 12.30 am Monday, allegedly by her neighbour who had reportedly threatened to kill her after accusing her of putting a monkey to steal from him.
Burnett was stabbed once in the neck and later pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The woman owned and operated a small grocery shop, which is situated in front of her house, for over 20 years. Relatives said that she would sleep in the shop.
Residents had told this newspaper that minutes before the stabbing, the suspect allegedly set a freezer outside of Burnett’s shop on fire. The smoke alerted her and when she opened the shop to check, she was attacked by the man. Police, in a statement, had said that about 8pm on Saturday, the suspect went to Burnett’s shop and accused her of sending her monkey to steal money from his house. As a result, they had an exchange of words during which the man allegedly threatened to kill her. The police added that the suspect returned early Monday morning to Burnett’s shop and they had a confrontation and he allegedly stabbed her.
An autopsy showed that Burnett died as a result of the stab wound to the neck.
Burnett turned 54 on the day she was fatally attacked. Her family is calling for justice.
“We gah seek justice. It can’t guh down just suh… me sister ain’t deserve fah die how she die hay,” her brother Warren Burnett had said.
