Daughter among two held over Nonpareil pensioner’s murder

Two persons, including the daughter of Nonpareil pensioner Roger Manikam, were detained by the police yesterday on suspicions that they are linked to his murder, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said.

Blanhum told Stabroek News that Manikam’s daughter, Nalini Manikam, and her boyfriend were arrested and are currently assisting the police with investigations. He also said that a third person is wanted for questioning.

Roger Manikam
Roger Manikam

A source told Stabroek News that one of the two suspects revealed to police the plot to kill the pensioner, who constantly harassed them.

The body of the senior Manikam, 65, of Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara, was discovered on Sunday near a drain, some five corners from his house along the Coldingen Embankment Road. There was a chop wound to the back of his head.

A post-mortem examination performed on Manikam’s body yesterday revealed that he died as a result of brain haemorrhaging due to blunt trauma to head.

The source said up to yesterday afternoon investigators had established that Manikam used to harass the duo and they decided to get rid of him. As a result, they allegedly hatched a plan where they went into the kitchen of the house and started to scream in order to lure him there.

They were successful in doing so and as Manikam was entering the kitchen, the male suspect allegedly dealt him a blow to his head with an axe.

He collapsed to the ground and subsequently died. They then cut the polythene clothes line in their yard and tied his body after wrapping it in plastic.

It was at this point, that a friend of the duo allegedly transported Manikam’s body to the Coldingen Embankment road where it was discovered.

Information reaching this newspaper revealed that detectives returned to the scene yesterday morning where they examined the clothes line and discovered that it was the same polythene that was used to tie the body.