Market vendor arraigned with shopkeeper’s murder

Nathan Anthony Stoute of Helena, Number Two, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Thursday arraigned with the murder of Bibi Shaneeza Bhola.
Stoute appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on February 26, 2018 at Rock Creek, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), he murdered Bhola.
He was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan until January 17, 2018. The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
According to Police facts, Stoute was one of two men who were last seen at the woman’s shop at Rock Creek. The 35-year-old woman of Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was later found dead.
It was reported that on the day in question, a relative left the woman’s premises after she closed for the day.
Investigations revealed that the relative went back to the woman’s shop later in the morning and realised that the door was locked from the outside, so he thought that something was amiss. The relative, upon gaining entry into the house, saw the woman’s motionless body.
Her abdomen bore a stab wound. When checks were made for the two tenants, they had disappeared along with their belongings.
It is believed that the men carted off cash, jewellery and other valuable items.