…accomplice sentenced to 18 years
– prosecution signals intention to appeal ruling

More than a decade after he murdered his estranged wife and buried her body in a shallow grave next to his home, 45-year-old Shradhanand Narine, called “Anand”, was on Thursday sentenced to 22-and-a-half years minus time served, which amounts to seven-and-a-half years.
The former Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown resident’s accomplice and friend, Daral Ponton, 41, also known as “Yankee”, was, on the other hand, sentenced to 18-and-a-half years. He, too, was credited with time spent in pre-trial detention.
Earlier in the month the pair appeared before Demerara High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall, before whom State prosecutors presented a joint indictment for the capital offence of murder against them.

The duo had both pleaded not guilty, causing a jury to be empanelled, but they later pleaded guilty, and as such, when the case was called on Thursday, the presiding Judge directed the 12 jurors to return unanimous guilty verdicts.
Narine was represented by Attorney-at-Law Siand Dhurjon, while Ponton was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes and other lawyers from the law firm Hughes, Fields and Stoby.
“I am heartbroken”
At the men’s sentencing hearing on Thursday, Sarjou’s murder Champa Seenarine implored the court to impose the maximum penalty on her child’s killers. The grieving woman stressed that Sarjou’s murder was “carefully crafted”, and that the now-dead woman was her second child to have been brutally murdered.
Fighting to hold back tears as she addressed the court, she reflected on the many happy moments she had shared with Sarjou, whom she described as having been a loving person. “Since the death of my daughter and the proceedings before Justice Morris-Ramlall, I have been very depressed, and I have sleepless nights. I cry every day; I miss my daughter,” she shared.

“I am heartbroken, in pain, stressful. I miss my daughter a lot. My daughter did not deserve to die like that. She will always be remembered; she will be in my heart,” Seenarine has said.
“Forgive me”
“A life has been lost. There is no amount of words that I can express how sorry I am that I have caused you [Sarjou’s mother] and your family pain and suffering. Society was left in disbelief when they heard of what transpired. I felt like it was not worth living anymore; I wanted to leave this world, but counselling from some of the prison officers and my fellow inmates made me realise that that is not the way.
“I have become a God-fearing person, especially after surviving two major fires (while in prison). I have asked God to renew my mind and thinking, to cleanse my heart, and to make me a better person, so that when I am reintegrated back into society, I can be able to serve mankind in a positive way. I kept praying for Babita’s family…I hope that one day you [the deceased family] can find it in your hearts to forgive me,” a tearful Narine said as he begged for mercy. He admitted that Sarjou’s death was a result of his “anger” and “jealously”.
A crying Ponton, in a similar plea to the court, expressed, “I am kindly asking for the forgiveness of Babita Sarjou’s mom and all her siblings. I am kindly asking the court and society to forgive me for my actions. I know I have done wrong. I am a different person; I have changed. I am trying my best to pray for everyone. Your Worship [Justice Morris-Ramlall], I am sorry.”
Probation reports
