Man pleads guilty, three others not guilty for 2016 Black Bush Polder triple murder

One of the four men charged for the 2016 Black Bush Polder triple murder on Monday pleaded guilty to the crime before Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court.

Earlier this month Jairam Chaitram and his father, Carlton Chaitram known as ‘Lie Man’, Tameshwar Jagmohan, known as ‘Guana’ of Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder, and Rakesh Karamchand known as ‘Go-To-Front’ from Sheet Anchor, Canje, Berbice, were arraigned on three counts of murder.

They pleaded not guilty to the indictment and trial had commenced before a 12-member jury. However, on Monday, Jairam opted to plead guilty to the capital offence of murder.

He admitted that on July 21, 2016, he murdered 33-year-old Naresh Rooplall, 37-year-old Pawan Chandradai aka Suresh and his 15-year-old son, Jaikarran Chandradai aka Kevin.

Sentencing was deferred until February 10 to cater for a probation report. He was represented by Attorney Mursalene Bacchus, S.C and the state was represented by prosecutor Abigail Gibbs.

The trial against the three other men is currently ongoing.

On July 21, 2016, the three victims along with the brother of Jaikarran, 12-year-old Alvin left to go on a fishing trip and were expected home.

However, the 12-year-old was left behind at a camp to await his relatives’ return. According to the Guyana Police Force, each body bore a single gunshot wound.

It is alleged that the four defendants were in a rice field belonging to Sudama Jagmohan, called “King”, and were stealing diesel fuel when the victims came to the very field to catch hassar.

Jairam fired two shots in the air, and the three victims ran towards the dam, but fell. It is alleged that “Lie Man” told the party to “get rid of the evidence (witnesses).”

Jairam moved over to the men and shot them each once at point blank range, killing them on the spot.

When the bodies were discovered on July 22, 2016, by “King” and his workers, the men still had their fishing gear on them. Rooplall had a cast net hung over his shoulder; his nephew had a bag with fish hung around his neck; while Chandradeo had his cast net in his hand.

When arrested by police, under caution, Jairam said, “ Meh nah been want leff no evidence so I shoot them.”