Co-accused confesses to killing Diamond businesswoman in 2013

Colin Grant, who with ex-Police Sergeant Colin Bailey has been jointly charged for the murder of Diamond, East Bank Demerara businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when the case was called at the Demerara High Court.
The woman’s reputed husband, ex-Police Sergeant Colin Bailey, is, however, maintaining his not guilty plea.

The charge against these two accused persons detail that, between August 30 and 31, 2013, at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, Bailey and Grant murdered Ramnaress.
They were charged in 2016, and, after a preliminary inquiry, were committed to stand trial at the High Court before a 12-member jury.
Following Grant’s plea to the lesser count of manslaughter on Tuesday, he will return on November 2 for sentencing by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.
The lifeless body of 48-year-old Ramnaress, also called “Sabo”, of Lot 2430 21st Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD, was found lying face down in her office, located close to her garage.
Her throat had been slit, her head bashed in, and her hip was disjointed.
Sections of her multi-million-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 had been robbed before she was killed.

The perpetrators had also set alight a bond aback the house, and it was completely destroyed.
After the robbery, the killers escaped in one of the woman’s motor cars, but it was subsequently found abandoned on the Liliendaal Public Road, Greater Georgetown.

Further, information received revealed that the recordings from the surveillance cameras, both internally and externally, were missing. This indicated that the perpetrators were well briefed as to the locations of the recording areas.
Following the discovery, investigators had held out 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.
A post-mortem performed on the body of the businesswoman showed that she died as a result of shock and hemorrhage, due to multiple stab wounds.
Meanwhile, the woman’s reputed husband was arrested, and, during interrogation, held out that he was innocent.

Last week, the two accused denied the charge when it was read to them, but one week later, Grant has entered a guilty plea to the lesser count of manslaughter.
He was represented by attorney Dexter Todd, while the State is represented by prosecutors Latifah Elliot, Sarah Martin and Nafeeza Baig.