Two men yesterday appeared in the Providence Magistrate’s Court on two separate murder charges and Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry remanded them to prison.

Mark Samuels, 30, who allegedly battered his reputed wife to death and then slept beside the body, appeared first. The unemployed man of 99 Grove Squatting area, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

The particulars of the charge are that some time between Friday and Sunday last, Samuels murdered Chandrawattie Lalla, known as Anjanie Singh.

According to reports reaching Stabroek News, on Sunday morning residents of the squatting area noted that a foul smell was emanating from the house where the couple lived, and called the police.

When the police arrived, they reportedly found Samuels lying on a bed next to the woman’s decomposing body, which was wrapped in a white sheet. There were marks of violence on her head.

A post-mortem examination performed on the body early Monday morning by government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh revealed that Lalla died from haemorrhage of the brain due to blunt trauma to the head. Shortly after the post-mortem the woman’s remains were buried.

Samuels will return to court on January 15.

The second case was that of Myles Fernandes, 21, who is accused of stabbing his friend to death during a drinking spree at his Timehri house.

The Hyde Park Timehri resident allegedly murdered Stephen Gilbert on Friday night last.

Reports are that Gilbert was among several persons who were at Fernandes’ home drinking. The two had an argument that led to a scuffle during which Fernandes reportedly picked up a knife that was nearby and stabbed Gilbert in the chest.

Gilbert was rushed to the hospital but died while receiving treatment.

Fernandes will return to court on January 8.