Duo charged with murder of elderly Black Bush Polder couple
Two men appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh on Friday to answer to the charge of murder committed on an elderly couple from Yakusari, Black Bush Polder.
Harichan Persaud, 22, a Laborer of Lot 73 Yakusari South, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, and Emanuel Whittington, 27, a Laborer, of Lot 177 Yakusari South, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice was charged with two counts each of murder committed on Subnauth Budraj and his wife Sarasuatie Devi Budraj at Yakusari South, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice on Tuesday January 17, 2023.
The charge was laid under Section 101(c) of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01, of the Laws of Guyana.
They were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge and were both remanded to prison until February 07 2023. The matter was transferred to the Mibikuri Magistrate Court.
Subnauth and Sarasuattie Budraj were found murdered in their home at Yakurasi, Black Bush Polder on the morning of Tuesday January 17, 2023. The home was also set on fire but swift action by neighbours saved the building from complete destruction.
Police found Sarasuatie lying in the kitchen about two feet away from the main access door with her left hand completely burnt and a kitchen knife stuck in her left side neck.
Her entire body was partially burnt. Subnauth was also found lying on his back in the kitchen with several chop wounds to his head.
Following the gruesome discovery, police arrested several persons. Within hours, one of the suspects confessed, and admitted to playing a major part in the Budraj’s death, he also implicated another.
The accused told police that the intention was to rob the couple of their valuables and cash but they were identified, a scuffle reportedly ensued between the male victim and the suspect. As a result, the suspect was injured, that injury left a trail of blood in the market area located at the entrance of the street to the Budraj home.
Prior or the arrest of the suspects, police acting on information executed a search operation at the home of a 60-year-old cash crop farmer of Yakusari South, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne for arms, ammunition, drugs and the wanted person.
While conducting the search, an undisclosed amount of Guyana currency and jewelery were found in Emanuel Whittington’s room. Upon questioning, he told police that ‘Heads’ ventured to the home of the Budraj’s to rob them and eventually commit an act of double murder.
Hurrichan Persaud called ‘Heads’ was subsequently contacted but he denied the allegation put to him by the police. Both men were subsequently arrested.