The first suspect to be apprehended in the 2013 murder of Diamond businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress appeared before a city court yesterday charged with the crime.
Colin Grant, 32, of Lot 1161 Diamond Housing Scheme, was yesterday read the charge which stated that on August 30, 2013, he murdered Ramnaress in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
The defendant, who was represented by attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
On Friday, police finally made a breakthrough in Ramnaress’ murder investigation when information led them to the accused, who was in possession of the deceased’s laptop. Grant then reportedly led the police to Ramnaress’ diamond ring, which he had presented to his girlfriend.
Reports reaching Stabroek News stated that Grant, under interrogation, had divulged that the now dead Paul Bascom, who was shot by police during a stakeout at Golden Grove in December of 2013, was the mastermind of the woman’s murder. He had also allegedly indicated that on the night of the murder, Bascom and two others had slept at his residence before they proceeded to the woman’s house with the intention of robbing her.
Police investigators were further informed that when the men arrived, Bascom called Ramnaress to the fence, telling her that he had spotted a snake in her yard. The woman then gave him access to her property, which was said to be heavily secured, having had an electronic gate and surveillance cameras surrounding her home. Bascom’s three accomplices then entered behind them and Ramnaress was attacked and killed when she began screaming.
When investigations were later carried out, police found that the surveillance footage from the woman’s bedroom had gone missing.
