Corentyne man on life sentence found not guilty of attempting to murder wife

-but guilty of wounding

 Ian Saraswati
Ian Saraswati

A Corentyne man who is presently serving a life sentence for murdering his mother-in-law, was last week found not guilty of attempting to murder his wife in Decem-ber, 2014 at Whim Village, Corentyne. He was, however, found guilty of wounding her.

Ian Saraswati, of Lot 91 Bushlot Village, Corentyne, was on trial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the High Court in Berbice. He was represented by attorneys Mursaline Bacchus and Surihya Sabsook.

The state’s case was presented by attorney Mandel Moore. The state presented that on the morning of 16 December, 2014, the accused chopped his then teenage wife, Serojini Isaac, on her hand and legs.

Serojini Isaac

At the end of the trial, the accused gave an unsworn statement from the docks and the defence called two witnesses. Several witnesses had been called by the state.

Saraswati will return to court on May 8 for sentencing.

In June, 2015, the accused was found guilty by a jury of murdering his mother-in-law, Neelawattie Isaac, also known as ‘Navita’, 36, on December 16, 2014, at Whim Village, Corentyne.

Saraswati, who was handed the death penalty for the murder, was represented then by attorneys Tania Clements and Horatio Edmonson. A total of nine witnesses were called to the stand in that trial. 

The deceased was at her brother’s house at Whim, Corentyne with her daughter, Serojine Isaac, when Saraswati walked into the kitchen with a cutlass in his hand and chopped her in her head. He then dealt his wife, Serojine, chops to her hand and leg.

Both women were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, while relatives grabbed hold of Saraswati. The elder Isaac was transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and then later to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she succumbed.

In the first trial, Serojine Isaac, during her testimony, had told the court that Saraswati, while carrying out the attack, told her that her mother must make peace not separation. A few days prior to the attack, Serojine had separated from Saraswati and was residing with her mother. Serojine had said that she lived with Saraswati for two years and that he was always abusive to her whenever he consumed alcohol.

She said that she, her mother and aunt, were in her uncle’s kitchen when Saraswati walked in and meted out the attack.