In a shocking twist in the circumstances surrounding the brutal killing of 85-year-old Sumintra Sawh from Bushlot, West Coast Berbice, the great niece has confessed to being a part of a plan to rob the woman of her savings.
Sawh, known as Aunty Betty, was stabbed over six times and approximately $350,000 she had saved to build a fence was stolen from her bedroom on Monday. Her great niece, who was staying with her at nights, had told Police that two men armed with knives entered the home, tied her up, stabbed the old woman to death and stole her money.
However, while in custody and under intense questioning, the woman confessed Monday night. She detailed to investigators that she is friends with a 48-year-old male neighbor of Sawh and that the individual would usually visit them at the house.
The niece told police that on Sunday the man visited the house and Sawh gave him $1,000 to purchase balanjay (eggplant). She took the money from her purse she kept in her bedroom. Upon his return with the vegetable, the niece said that the “friend” told her that they will rob Sawh and that he will purchase a scooter for himself and that she (the niece) will get the house.
The niece went along with the plan and left the door to the bottom flat unlocked. In the wee hours of Monday morning, the “friend” entered the house and asked her for the money; Sawh was sleeping.
She revealed that she showed the “friend” the bag in Sawh’s room and he went in and began to batter the old woman on the bed with an object.
She told Police that she asked him to stop but he continued beating the woman until she was unconscious and he grabbed the bag with the money and reportedly scrambled her (the niece) on her neck and cut her on the left hand. She said he threatened to kill her family if she ever told anyone and he escaped.
She also admitted to Police that she was never tied up. Police are on the hunt for the second suspect.
