A 69-year-old construction worker of Westminster Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara was shot and killed during a robbery at his home yesterday morning. Two suspects were arrested by police.
Police are investigating the death of Jairam Ramkishun, a 69-year-old construction worker of Lot 2806 Westminster Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, which occurred at about 01:30 hrs yesterday.
Investigations revealed that Ramkishun resided in a one-flat concrete structure with his wife, Tajwantie Harry Persaud, a 50-year-old housewife, and their two sons, aged 24 and 25.
Ramkishun’s wife, Tajwantie Harry Persaud, told police that on Sunday morning, she and her husband were asleep in their bedroom when they were awakened by three men dressed in hoodies, one of whom was armed with a firearm, a police press release stated. They demanded that she hand over cash and jewellery, during which one of the men dealt her several lashes about her head with the gun.
According to the police report, Ramkishun then engaged in a scuffle with the men, during which one of his sons, who was home at the time, came out of his bedroom. Together, they managed to force the suspects out of the house.
During the scuffle, the son (Jonathan) received a stab wound to the left side of his rib area. The men exited through the western side door, after which Ramkishun armed himself with a cutlass and pursued the men in the yard.
The wife told the police that she then heard a loud explosion, and upon checking, she saw her husband lying motionless on his face in a pool of blood at the front of the yard.
She then contacted a family friend who made a report to the police. Checks made in their home, revealed that one iPhone 8 valued at $80,000 and one iPhone 11 (value unknown) were missing.
The scene was further processed, and two 9 mm live rounds and one 9 mm spent shell were recovered from the front of the yard (southern side). A black haversack and two flop hats were also found at the scene, the release said.
Sookdeo Ramkishun, Jairam’s brother told Stabroek News that about 3 am yesterday, he received a call from his nephew and as a result he rushed over to his brother’s house. There he found police detectives on the scene and Jairam lying in a pool of blood. An inspection of the home revealed that the suspects gained entry through a bathroom window. It is alleged that the suspect who entered through the window proceeded to open the door for the other to enter.
Jairam and his family were previously robbed of phones, cash and jewellery in February this year. Similarly, the suspects broke into their home and took possession of the valuables. They were apprehended by police and later appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.
Recently, the matter was called at the Wales Magistrate’s Court and Persaud attended. She recounted that as she was making her way up the stairs, one of the suspects threatened to take lives when he revisited their home.
Several persons were questioned, and certain information was received.
Two suspects were arrested by police. One was identified as the individual who made threats at the court day.
The family is demanding a swift and transparent investigation into the incident. According to Sookdeo, it is the first time they have experienced a murder in the family and as a result they are traumatized. They are also demanding justice since it is the second time Jairam’s family has been robbed and the perpetrators are not in prison for their actions.
The body of the deceased is presently lying at the Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.
