Post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out today on the couple brutally murdered in Yakusari, Black Bush Polder on Monday and charges are expected to follow.
Commander of Region Six, Shivpersaud Bacchus, yesterday confirmed to Stabroek News that the autopsies have been scheduled for today.
The two suspects – one of whom confessed to the horrific killings and implicated his partner – remain in police custody and are expected to face charges before the end of the week.
Subnauth Budraj, also known as “Bull boy”, 67, and Sarasuatie Budraj, also known as “Seeta”, 60, both of Yakusari South, Black Bush Polder were found murdered in their house just around 4.15 am on Wednesday.
The couple operated a shop and liquor store at the location and also sold alcohol and other beverages wholesale.
Subnauth’s throat was slit and he also sustained several chop injuries on his body. His wife, Sarasuatie sustained several stabs. 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 brutally murdering the elderly 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 and resulted in an explosion alerting residents of the fire.
Commander Bacchus and team after receiving a report of the explosion ventured into the area where an investigation was launched and mere hours after, the two suspects were arrested separately for questioning.
The Guyana Police Force in statement said, that acting on information received, police ranks carried out a search on the home of a 60-year-old cash crop farmer of Yakusari South, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne for arms, ammunition, drugs and a wanted person on Tuesday. “During the search, one of the Police ranks found a quantity of cash and jewellery in Emanuel Whittington’s room who, on being spoken to, said he and someone by the name ‘Heads’ went and robbed Subnauth and his wife during which ‘Heads’ murdered them.”
The ranks in Berbice then arrested ‘Heads’ identified as Harrichan Persaud, 22, of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder.
Stabroek News was told, that the first suspect in his confession stated, that he and the second suspect invaded the couple’s house to rob them.
Based on the suspect’s confession, the couple reportedly recognized the men resulting in them panicking and murdering the couple. After the duo was killed, the suspects then turned on a gas bottle and lit several papers around the bottle in an effort to start a fire to destroy any possible evidence.
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.
The couple has three children, all of whom reside overseas.
