Suspect charged with murdering couple at Tain

Ian Boodhoo, 26, was yesterday charged with murdering a couple at Tain, Corentyne, Berbice.

Boodhoo, of No. 3 settlement, Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, was arraigned before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the No. 51 Magistrate’s Court

 Ramdat Persaud
Ramdat Persaud
 Parbattie Vijrauren
Parbattie Vijrauren

According to the indictable charges against him, between June 2nd and June 3rd, 2015, he murdered Parbattie Vijrauren, called ‘Nicki,’ 37, and US-based Guyanese Ramdat Persaud, called ‘Buddy,’ 56, at Tain, Corentyne.

The unrepresented Boodhoo, who was not required to plead to the charge, was remanded to prison and the case was transferred to the Whim Magistrate’s Court, where it will be called on July 13th.

On Wednesday morning, the lifeless bodies of Vijrauren and Persaud were discovered after a cousin of Persaud noticed several grill bars had been removed and the window was open at his Tain home. The cousin, Eddy Ramdanan, 68 ventured upstairs, where he saw the bloodied bodies.

Post-mortem examinations done by Pathologist Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan found that both persons died from haemorrhage and shock due to incised wounds. According to a source, Vijrauren sustained a gaping wound to her neck while Persaud had sustained an injury to his head.

Ian Boodhoo
Ian Boodhoo

Vijrauren, a mother of two, had worked as a domestic worker with Persaud’s neighbour and became friends with him. Relatives said Vijrauren’s first union ended when her husband died in an accident several years ago. A few years later she shared a common-law union with the suspect, but ended it after things went sour. Her relatives said the man refused to accept that the relationship was over and subsequently made several threats to Vijrauren. She had indicated to him that she would make a report to the police.

Between December and January, the suspect had a confrontation with Persaud, during which Persaud sustained a fractured skull, which left him hospitalised for weeks and prevented him from travelling to the US.

They said that the suspect had fled the area and police were unable to arrest him. However, he recently returned.