By Bebi Oosman
A Yakusari, Black Bush Polder couple was murdered on Monday evening during a robbery after they recognised the perpetrators and their house was later set on fire.
Subnauth Budraj, also known as “Bull boy”, 67, and Sarasuatie Budraj, also known as “Seeta”, 60, both of Yakusari South, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne were found murdered in their house just around 4.15 am yesterday.
The suspects were said to have worked with Subnauth in his rice field and were there on Monday afternoon at his shop drinking.
They later returned to rob the couple and Subnauth was said to have dealt one of them a chop. The suspect went to the Mibicuri Hospital for treatment and staff there alerted the police after the man declined to say how he sustained the injury.
Commander of Region Six, Shivpersaud Bacchus yesterday confirmed that the two prime suspects were arrested. According to Bacchus, several persons were initially held for questioning which aided their investigation.
Stabroek News was told, that the first suspect, a 22-year-old, also from Yakusari, was first arrested and eventually confessed to police that he and the second suspect, 27, had invaded the couple’s house to rob them.
Based on the suspect’s confession, the couple recognized the men resulting in them panicking and murdering Subnauth and his wife. After the two were killed, the suspects then turned on a gas bottle and lit several papers around it in an effort to start a fire to destroy evidence.
Commander Bacchus yesterday confirmed, that police have since retrieved some of the stolen items from the 22-year old’s house.
Stabroek News was told that police ventured to the location where they found jewellery belonging to the deceased with his name, cash and phone cards.
The couple operated a shop and liquor store at the location and also sold beverages wholesale.
The couple has three children who are all living overseas.
Subnauth’s throat was slit and he also sustained several chop injuries. His wife, Sarasuatie sustained several stabs. Stabroek News was told that the knife which was used to inflict injuries to the woman was left stuck in her neck. Further, the woman’s entire left arm was burnt in the fire.
After murdering the couple, the perpetrators then attempted to torch the premises, starting a fire in the lower flat of the building which quickly spread to the bond area which stores alcohol and other items. This resulted in an explosion which alerted neighbours to the fire.
Relatives yesterday also confirmed that the entire house was ransacked.
According to the woman’s nephew, Satesh Persaud, 49, around 4 am, he received a phone call that his aunt’s house was on fire. He said they immediately rushed over where they found residents working together to extinguish the fire.
“Me see them guys a fetch water and me thought everything okay, then one of them boy talk say both a them get murder and dead”, Persaud relayed.
The man said that it seemed the fire was started in the veranda located in the lower flat after which it spread to the living area and bond. “From there the fire tek off to all the bond with the rum and drinks and everything.”
Subnauth’s body was found next to the front door in the lower flat when the shop is, while his wife’s body was found a short distance away inside the lower flat next to a chair set.
A neighbour said that residents heard an explosion around 4 am and after looking over they saw fire emanating from the couple’s house. “When we see fire we just run out and we start tek bucket and we calling for uncle `Bull boy’ and them na answer and then somebody see the door open downstairs and run in and say them dead and deh deh and we hurry out the fire and then we see them”, the resident relayed.
Persaud yesterday noted that the bond and sections of the couple’s kitchen were completed destroyed by the fire.
“One of the fridge burn flat down, and all them chair them and everything, one of me aunty hand here burn out clean and me uncle them fire some chop pon he neck and me aunty from the left side here the knife stick in she neck and left”, he said.
Persaud added that he last saw the couple around 1 pm on Monday when he visited the shop to purchase drinks. “Them been a prepare bajie and them been alright.”
Residents were left in a state of shock yesterday as they all described the couple as easygoing, hardworking, and kind. “Them people this na get problem with nobody, nobody… Them a good people, me can’t believe this happen to them”, one neighbour said.
Another added, “When you go shop them laugh and talk to you, nothing them don’t tell people, them na get problem.”
