Two years after a clothes vendor hacked his three children to death in their Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara home, John Blanchard was on Monday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the heinous crime. The preliminary inquiry was completed and the findings were read by Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before a packed courtroom. The preliminary inquiry saw 12 witnesses testifying against the man, including his wife and close relatives.
During her ruling, Magistrate Daly told the murder accused that there was sufficient evidence as she consigned him for a High Court trial.
An opportunity was granted to Blanchard to comment, but he told the magistrate that he will reserve them for the trial. Blanchard, who looked pale when he arrived at the court on Monday, remained silent and nodded his head while the magistrate made the committal.
On October 13, 2011, Blanchard went berserk and chopped his two children and a stepchild to death.
John Blanchard reportedly hacked the three children, two of whom died on the spot while the third remained critical until her death two days after the horrific act.
The act was committed while they were asleep at their house at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. Dead were his stepdaughter Belika Blanchard Singh, 10; his son Daniel Blanchard, four; and his daughter Joy Blanchard, six.
The gruesome discovery was made at the family’s home located at Dr Charles New Housing Scheme commonly known as “Ivan’s Street”, Soesdyke.
It was reported that the man and his family moved to Soesdyke three months prior to the fatal night. He was described as a dedicated worker who sold boiled corn at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and in the city to maintain his family.
Blanchard was also described by neighbours as a family-oriented man, although he seemed to have frequent arguments with his wife. Why Blanchard may have wanted to commit such heinous crimes is still to be revealed.
This publication was reliably informed that his wife left their Soesdyke home to go into the hinterland and he did not approve of her decision. It was also reported that the man had made several attempts to save his marriage even after his wife admitted to having an affair with another man.
