Murder of Babita Sarjou: Jury empaneled; trial to start soon

The trial into the murder of Babita Sarjou, which sent shockwaves across the country, will commence soon as a jury panel has been selected.

The woman’s husband Sharnandand Narine, called “Anand”, is accused of collaborating with Darel Pronton called “Yankee” to the 2010 murder. On Monday, as they appeared in the High Court, they pleaded not guilty.

Narine of Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, and Pronton of Broad Street, Charlestown were indicted for the capital offence before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court.

They denied that between November 4-5, 2010 they murdered Sarjou, a mother of one.

Narine is represented by attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon while Pronton is represented by attorney Nigel Hughes and his associates. The State is represented by prosecutor Muntaz Ali.

The New Room had reported that on November 4, 2010, Sarjou reportedly left her Timehri, East Bank Demerara home, informing her mother that she was going to meet her husband, Narine and their and son at the Kitty Seawall to view the annual Diwali motorcade.

When she did not return home that night, her mother became worried and filed a missing person’s report.

After many months of searching and treating the case as a missing person, the case was eventually closed. However, in 2016, with new information, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum re-opened the case, treating it in this instance as a homicide.

Following new investigations into the matter, Sarjou’s estranged husband was further questioned and he subsequently led the investigating team to a shallow grave which had been dug in his own backyard.

Further probing also revealed that Narine had paid Pronton GY$ 50,000 and had promised him a trip to Trinidad if he killed Sarjou.