Sarjou’s ex-husband, co-accused to stand High Court trial for murder

The preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Babita Sarjou concluded before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday with the two accused committed to stand trial at the High Court for murder.

Sarjou’s ex-husband, Sharnandand Narine, called ‘Anand’ of Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, and Darel Pronton called ‘Yankee’ of Lot 54 Broad Street, Charlestown, also in the city, are on remand for the woman’s murder.

On Tuesday, November 07, the Magistrate ruled that a sufficient case was established against the two men with evidence led by Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers.

Attorneys-at-law Ronald Trotman and Hubert Rodney are representing the two defendants. It is alleged that on November 4, 2010, Sarjou left her Timehri, East Bank Demerara home, informing her mother that she was going to meet her husband, Narine, and son at the Kitty Seawall to view the annual Diwali motorcade. When she did not return home that night, her mother became worried and filed a missing person’s report.

After many months of searching and treating the case as a missing person, the case was eventually closed. However, in 2016, with the receipt of new information, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum re-opened the case, treating it in this instance as a homicide.

And, following new investigations into the matter, Sarjou’s estranged husband was further questioned and he subsequently led the investigating team to a shallow grave which had been dug in his own backyard.

Further probing also revealed that Narine had paid Pronton GY$50,000 and had promised him a trip to Trinidad if he killed Sarjou.