– to review CCTV footage
BY: BHISHAM MOHAMED
As part of the investigation into the murder of businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress who was discovered dead in her home at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Saturday morning; investigators intend to review the footage recorded from the CCTV camera along the East Bank, Georgetown and East Coast corridors.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Guyana Times International on Monday morning that the police, as part of their investigations will review the footage with the hope of finding a clue to solve the murder.
Footage
The police are optimistic that the footage from the CCTV cameras will at least provide them with a view of the driver and occupants who were in the getaway car that was later found abandoned at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
Persaud could not confirm the actual time the car was found, but suggested that it might have been before the area was cordoned off to facilitate the Venezuelan president’s visit on Saturday.
In addition, the crime chief also confirmed that the police are working on several leads that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
He said that after the discovery, crime scene experts had dusted the house and the woman’s body for fingerprints and they were successful in retrieving a few.
The police also uplifted DNA samples to be tested as they intensify their investigations.
Responding to an article in one of the daily newspapers which reported that a sister of the dead woman knew the killers; the crime chief stated that he was not briefed on this development, but believes it is a speculation.
“If she had information that someone wanted to harm her sister, then she should have contacted the police at once, thus preventing a hideous crime,” Persaud said.
A post-mortem examination on Ramnaress’ body is expected to be performed on Wednesday at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.
While it is speculated that the woman died as a result of shock and hemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds, relatives are curious to know if she was killed before the wounds were inflicted.
Allegation
The reputed husband of the deceased woman was extensively grilled. Sergeant Colin Bailey admitted that he heard of his implication in the murder, but explained that he will never commit such an act, noting that he and Ramnaress have been together for the past 21 years.
He also stated that after the woman ended the relationship with her first husband, they have been friends and their relationship blossomed.
The lifeless body of Ramnaress, 48, also called “Sabo” of Lot 2430 21 Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was found about 10: 00h lying face down in her office located close to her garage.
Her throat was slit, head bashed-in and hip was disjointed; sections of her multimillion-dollar property were also destroyed by fire.
The entire bottom-flat of the house was completely drenched with kerosene and her house was ransacked, which suggests that the woman was robbed before she was killed.
The perpetrators also set alight a bond aback the house, which was completely destroyed. After the robbery, the killers escaped in one of the woman’s motor cars, it was subsequently found abandoned on the Liliendaal Public Road, East Coast Demerara.
Recordings
Further information received revealed that the recordings from the surveillance cameras, both internally and externally were missing.
This indicates that the perpetrators were well briefed as to the locations of the recording areas.
Investigators are working on the theory that the robbery might have been an inside job since there were no signs of forced entry into the premises.
In addition, the woman’s property is protected by several feet of grilled fence and an alarm system, which, according to neighbours, did not go off during the night of the gruesome murder.
