Relatives of murdered US-based Guyanese want deeper probe

Police want to speak to wife – source
When Motilall Singh left the US to return to Guyana to look after his brother’s funeral arrangements, his siblings never expected that he would be murdered. But he was stabbed to death and even though five persons have been charged, relatives are calling for more investigations to be done.

Motilall Singh
Motilall Singh

The man had planned to make major changes in his life and his siblings have communicated certain suspicions to Guyanese and American law enforcement authorities. Singh had planned to file for divorce when he returned to the US and according to a police source, in the course of investigations conducted here, they had unearthed some information and are interested in speaking with the man’s wife. But this newspaper was told that the woman will not be returning to Guyana for the funeral, which is scheduled for today.

The bloodied body of Singh was found close to a tiny bridge at Second Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara around 2 am on September 7. He had been stabbed multiple times.

Police had said that the man had been heading to his Second Street, Windsor Forest home when three men confronted and stabbed him several times. Investigators visited the scene and found Singh lying on the road with all his money, jewellery and other personal property intact. He died before receiving medical attention. A post-mortem examination had revealed that Singh, 44, died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple stab wounds. He had been stabbed about 21 times.

On Friday, three of his step-children, his son-in-law and another man appeared before Magistrate Fazil Azeez at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, charged in relation to the murder and were remanded to prison. Initial reports had suggested that the man might have been killed because of a property dispute but relatives said that he and his siblings had jointly owned a property in Bagotstown and there was no intention of selling it.

Grieving: From right are two of Motilall Singh’s sisters, Savitri Singh and Emawattie Jagan. At left is family friend, Natasha Pollard.
Grieving: From right are two of Motilall Singh’s sisters, Savitri Singh and Emawattie Jagan. At left is family friend, Natasha Pollard.

The man’s sisters Savitri Singh called ‘Radha’ and Emawattie Jagan called ‘Elle’ visited Stabroek News yesterday to clarify that there was no intention of selling the property. Singh had returned to look after the arrangements for his brother, Gokarran Singh’s funeral and Savitri said that she had seen him off at the airport, just over three weeks ago.  She said that he had told her then that when he returned, he wanted to have a “family talk” because he had made some decisions and wanted their opinion and support. She said that he told her that he had planned to file for divorce and had already scheduled a meeting with a lawyer.

“Never in a million years had I imagined when I sent him off that day, that I was sending him off to his death”, said an emotional Savitri.  Singh and another sister, Bibi Shirool had returned just over three weeks ago and at 5am on September 7, Shirool called and informed them that their brother had been killed. Singh had migrated to the US in February 1991 and had worked at the airport as a messenger. However, he was involved in an accident last year and was on disability leave and it was because he was not working that he volunteered to return to Guyana to look after his older brother’s funeral arrangement. The last time he had returned was over two years ago for the funeral of his mother-in-law and before that for the funeral of his father-in-law. Savitri said that he had stated that if he died in the US, he would like his body to be returned to Guyana. She and Jagan described their brother as “kind, loving, not violent and very giving and trusting…he see good in everybody”. The grieving woman said that her brother had often worked two jobs to make ends meet.

On September 10, Singh’s son-in-law, Ayube Hamid called ‘Little’ and Bissoondial Mahadeo, a labourer called ‘Weedman’, appeared in court charged with his murder. His step-children: Bibi Farida Khan called ‘Pum’, Shamiza Khan called ‘Sham’, and Hoosman Khan called ‘Strongman’ were charged with procuring and abetting the murder.  They were all charged under the same section and were not required to plead to the capital offences and were remanded to prison.

“We’re shocked, hurt beyond compare and we are very angry. We hope that they get the death penalty” if found guilty, Savitri said. She stated that her brother stayed with them because he felt that they would help him while he was in Guyana. He is survived by two brothers and four sisters.

Savitri related that they had met with local police who she said stated that they were doing their job and their investigations were completed. They woman noted that while the lawmen said that they were interested in Singh’s wife, they reportedly said it was it was up to the American embassy. She said that they (relatives) had also made a report to the police in the US and contacted the local American embassy and were told that the Guyana government had to request their help before they could get involved. (Gaulbert Sutherland)