Three years after her death, the reputed husband of murdered businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress was today charged with the crime.
Former police sergeant Colin Bailey, 53, of 63 South Vryheid’s Lust, was read the charge stating that between August 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, he murdered Sirmattie Ramnaress called Kavita. He was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.
In November 2015, another man, Colin Grant, had been charged with the murder of Ramnaress. Today, when Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan enquired of the prosecution whether the accused would be charged jointly, Prosecutor Neville Jeffers indicated that advice would first be sought.
Bailey was remanded to prison until March 15, when a report will be submitted by the prosecution. The other accused, Grant, is set to return to court on March 7.
Ramnaress, a 36-year-old businesswoman, was found dead on the morning of August 31, 2013 with a stab wound and injuries to her head and body in the garage of her Diamond home. While petrol was strewn all over her house, it was the bond at the back of the yard that was set alight and destroyed. The woman’s body was discovered after the fire service had been called about the fire.
An autopsy later determined that she died as a result of a ruptured spleen and brain haemorrhaging.
Bailey had been a suspect in the murder, but during the course of investigations, the man had continuously urged police to look beyond him as he suggested their misdirected focus was allowing the killers to go free.
In November 2015, Grant was charged with the woman’s murder after police, being in receipt of information, were led to Grant, who was allegedly in possession of the deceased’s laptop. Grant then reportedly led the police to Ramnaress’ diamond ring, which he had presented to his girlfriend.
