Police on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a female shopkeeper who was found dead in her Onderneeming home on Friday.
Dead is Nazarene Haniff called “Aunty Molly” of 347 Red Village Extension Scheme, Onderneeming Sand Pit.
The discovery was made at about 13:15h and the now dead 52-year-old woman is believed to have been beaten and sexually assaulted.
According to information reaching Guyana Times, Haniff was discovered dead in her bed. This newspaper was told that a man, who usually sells ice to the deceased, went to deliver ice at about 08:30h on Friday and she was alive and well at that time. However, when he returned at about 13:15h, he found her lying on the bed face up and motionless.
The man reportedly raised an alarm immediately and neighbours rushed to the scene.
One neighbour told this publication that after hearing of the shocking news, she rushed over to the deceased home and saw her on the bed with her hands on her chest close to her neck. The neighbour recalled observing that Haniff’s feet were on the ground, hanging off the bed and her underwear was pulled to her knees. She added too that the dead woman’s face also appeared to have been beaten up.
Meanwhile, a close friend of Haniff related that the only suspect so far is a male in his early 30s of mixed ethnicity. She said the man, whom she described as thin in structure and brown in complexion, is believed to have owed the shop owner money.
That man was last seen between 09:30h to 10:00h in the community under the influence of alcohol and trying to get transportation to go to the public road. Residents said based on the man’s behaviour, he seemed to be running from something.
However, Divisional Commander Khalid Pareshram confirmed, when contacted, that the Police had someone in custody but it is unclear whether it was the same person.
Further asked to confirm whether evidence at the scene suggests that the deceased was sexually assaulted, Commander Paresham would only say that they are awaiting a post-mortem examination to determine this.
Nevertheless, the body of “Aunty Molly” is presently at the Suddie Hospital Mortuary. In the meantime, investigations are continuing.
