Husband, wife jailed for 80 years

Boxing Night murder

By Shemuel Fanfair

Two weeks after being unanimously found guilty by a 12-member jury, Vishawantie Ragnauth, 38; and her reputed husband, Nyron Thakurdyal, 39, were on Tuesday sentenced to 40 years each in jail for murdering Ragnauth’s uncle.
The couple was found guilty of the murder of 39-year-old miner Sunil Ramsundar on December 26, 2014, at Skull City, Patentia, West Bank Demerara.
Moments after Justice Sandil Kissoon disclosed the term of imprisonment; the woman fell to her seat in tears and was escorted out of the courtroom in the same emotional state. Her accomplice, meanwhile, reacted to his sentence without much reaction.
Ragnauth had earlier told the court that she was sorry for what happened and begged for forgiveness, while fellow killer Thakurdyal expressed his remorse and sympathy, telling the court he wanted to be a “constructive father” to his six children. Attorney Lisa Cave, who appeared for the prosecution, however deemed Ramsundar’s killing as senseless and unprovoked, stating the now deceased man was standing and cursing by himself when he was attacked.

In probation reports presented to the court, two contrasting life circumstances were disclosed. For Thakurdyal, it was stated that he migrated with his family to the United States in 1985 but was deported on a narcotics possession charge in 2003. However, the court learnt that he obtained a work permit and lived in The Bahamas for nine years where he did construction work. He later returned to Guyana where he sold hygienic products, making a living for himself.
Thakurdyal came from Berbice and lived at Industry, East Coast Demerara, where he commenced the relationship with Ragnauth, whose past was described as “abusive”. In her report, the court heard that Ragnauth, a waitress, was mother to three children. It was observed that she was verbally and physically abusive to partners and during her second relationship, her husband whom she married according to Hindu rites, fled the home due to her abusive nature.
Neighbours described the North Section, Canal Number Two native as an alcoholic who often behaved “disorderly”. The court heard that the woman allegedly sold marijuana and cocaine in the neighbourhood.
After Attorney Hughes’ plea of mitigation, Justice Kissoon indicated that rather than 60 years, he started at a base of 50 years, in keeping with a recent Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling. He subtracted a total of 10 years for time spent on remand, expression of remorse and Hughes’ plea which had appealed for mercy.
The facts of the matter stated that Ramsundar was killed after he attempted to settle a dispute between his sister, his niece and his niece’s reputed husband. Around 22:00h on that fateful night, Ramsundar’s sister was being assaulted by her daughter Vishawantie and her partner, Nyron.
At that time, the now deceased man asked his sister why she was crying, and upon learning about the assault, the man approached his niece for an explanation. However, this quickly turned into a heated argument, during which Ramsundar was stabbed about his body. Nyron Thakurdyal held the man while Vishawantie stabbed him. A teenaged eyewitness said that she passed the kitchen knife to her spouse who completed the attack.
Ramsundar collapsed on the spot and was pronounced dead on arrival to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. After the duo stabbed the man, they ran away and flagged down a passing car. That vehicle happened to be that of an off-duty Policeman who said he heard the male offender say via his cellphone that he just “jook-up” someone. He then drove them in the Wales Police Station where they were subsequently arrested.
Meanwhile, Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan in his testimony gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage; and a stab wound to the neck. The pathologist had told the jury that there were injuries to the right forearm, right chest, left part of the neck and jaw, noting that a puncture to an artery caused excessive blood loss.
The late Ramsundar was described as a hard-working individual.