Aunty Betty murder: Niece and neighbour face joint charge, remanded to prison

The neighbour and niece of 85-year-old Sumintra Sawh called “Aunty Betty” were Thursday jointly charged for her murder.

Mohammed Ramzan Shaheed called “Bhajee” a labourer of Bushlot, West Coast Berbice was jointly charged with Roshanie Basdeo called “Mala”, 37, a housewife, also of Bushlot, for the brutal murder of Sawh committed sometime between November 27 and November 28, 2022.

They both appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh (Basdeo appeared virtually from the New Amsterdam Prison) and were not required to plead to the indictable charge. They were remanded to prison until December 14, 2022.

Basdeo was charged with the murder of Sawh a few days ago. However, Police withdrew the charge to charge her jointly with Shaheed on Thursday.

Shaheed was arrested on Saturday last at Bushlot. He was wanted for questioning following a confession given by Basdeo on November 29, that the two concocted a plan to rob and kill Sawh.

However, when Basdeo changed her story stating that she committed the act alone, Police were still searching for Shaheed. When he was eventually arrested, Shaheed told police that he met with Basdeo two Wednesdays before the murder and Basdeo told him she was being evicted from her home.

She said she wanted to move into Sawh’s house and take it over but that she would need to get rid of the woman.

Shaheed said he was promised payment to commit the act and in the wee hours of Monday, November 28, 2022, he went over and battered the woman with a piece of wood. He said he left, not knowing what Basdeo did after because he did not get paid.