Boyfriend charged with murdering pregnant girlfriend

A Berbice man was on Friday charged with murder after he confessed to beating his girlfriend in the head with a paddle before she jumped overboard and drowned.

Dickwon Nigel Adams, of Lot 17, Smithfield New Amsterdam and DeVeldt Village, Upper Berbcie River appeared in court Friday. He is accused of murdering 17-year-old Melissa Soman of 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam.

Soman’s body was found in the Berbice River on June 18.

Adams, who listed his occupation as a businessman, made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate Court on Friday. He was not required to plead and was remanded to prison.

According to a source close to the investigation, on the evening of June 17, Soman, known as Lisa, and her boyfriend were involved in a heated argument after he accused her of dancing with a number of persons at a birthday party they had just attended in Gaettroy Village.

He told investigators she was also “friendly” and was seen dancing with his 48-year-old uncle.

While in the boat on their way home, the boyfriend launched an attack on the uncle and the teenager using a boat paddle.

The body of Soman, was found on June 18 at around 15:00h in the vicinity of DeVeldt Village. Her face and right hand were badly disfigured.

A post Mortem performed by government pathologist confirmed she died as a result of drowning compounded by blunt trauma to the head.

Soman, who had a two-year-old son, was laid to rest Friday.