Rice farmer charged with murder of teen

A 42-year-old rice farmer was charged on Wednesday with the murder of 14-year-old Christopher Basdeo whose decomposed body was found in a shallow grave at a property at Lust-En-Rust, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on October 25.

Jairam Sieupersaud of Lot 548 Parfaite Harmonie, WBD, appeared before Magistrate Seepaul-Ali at the Wales Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

He was remanded to prison until December 12, 2019.

A post mortem conducted on Basdeo’s body on Wednesday by Government pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh showed that he died from brain hemorrhage as a result of blunt trauma to the head.

On October 25, the rice farmer confessed to the brutal murder and led Police to where he buried the teen’s body.

He told the Police that he and the teen were drinking Banko wine on October 17 at Parfaite Harmonie when they had an argument over money.

The argument led to a fight and the rice farmer said he lashed Basdeo to the head with a piece of wood and left him bleeding on the ground and went home.

The rice farmer had told the Police that he returned to the location later in the night and buried Basdeo’s body in the sand.

The teenager, who also resided at Parfaite Harmonie, was reported missing by his family two weeks before his body was found.