Mohammed Ramzan Shaheed, who was arrested in connection with the murder of an 85-year-old Bushlot, West Coast Ber-bice woman, on Monday evening confessed to dealing the first set of blows with a piece of wood, a police source said yesterday.
Shaheed, for whom a wanted bulletin was issued last week, was arrested in Bushlot Village, West Coast Berbice around 4.30 pm on Saturday.
The body of Sumintra Sawh, also known as “Aunty Betty”, of Lot 131 Section ‘B’ Bushlot Village was found on her bed with stab wounds – one on both sides of her temple, three on the forehead, and one to the back of the head last week Monday.
The woman’s great niece, Roshanie Basdeo, also known as ‘Mala’, 35, of Lot 84 D Bushlot Village on Friday last appeared at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh where the charge of murder was read to her.
According to the police source, Shaheed after questioning on Monday, confessed that two Wednesdays ago he met Basdeo when she informed him that she was being evicted from the house where she was residing and wanted to go and live permanently at Sawh’s house. He alleged that Basdeo told him that she would have to get rid of the elderly woman first.
He said he told her he would do the work and questioned whether she would pay him and she agreed. As such, he told her he would carry out the attack on Sunday evening and that she should leave the kitchen door open
According to the police source, Shaheed said that on the night in question, he took a couple shots of rum on his veranda and waited until midnight after which he headed over to the elderly woman’s house where he picked up a piece of wood from her yard and headed upstairs through the open door where he then met Basdeo in the back bedroom.
He told investigators that after Basdeo checked and confirmed that the elderly woman was sleeping he went into the room where he struck her four times in her head with the piece of wood.
According to the police source he said that he then exited the room and requested his money from Basdeo. However, he said that she told him that she did not have any money then and he left the house and returned home where he continued drinking and slept away.
The police source said that Shaheed stated that around 4 am he was awoken by screams from Basdeo telling neighbours of thieves and as such he left the area.
As of yesterday afternoon, investigations into the matter were continuing as police were expected to hold a confrontation between Shaheed and Basdeo after which a file will be prepared for legal advice.
