Champa Seonarine, the mother of Babita Sarjou, whose remains were discovered buried in her estranged husband’s backyard last year, took the stand to testify in the matter on Wednesday.
The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the woman’s murder continued before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.
Murder accused: Anand Narine
Along with Seonarine, Inspector Suraj Singh took the stand; the victim’s sister, Sunita Sarjou, will take the stand today when the matter continues.
The dead woman, in November of 2010, left her home to view a Diwali motorcade; however, she failed to return.
Sarjou’s whereabouts remained a mystery for several years, but her family never gave up on getting an explanation for her disappearance. In March of last year, the woman’s remains were found in her husband Anand Narine’s Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown backyard.
The remains were positively identified by her mother.
In her testimony before the court, Seonarine recounted the day of her daughter’s disappearance.
She identified Narine as her former son-in-law to the court and relayed that he, on numerous occasions leading up to her daughter’s disappearance, threatened her life.
Seonarine was again made to identify the objects found with her daughter’s remains.
On the day of the discovery, Seonarine told media operatives then that her daughter always complained of having a turbulent relationship with Narine.
She divulged that even the family members of Narine and, more importantly, his mother had told her that her son (Narine) was brain damaged and, as such, would act in a disorderly manner.
Seonarine was also the person to report her daughter’s disappearance, since Sarjou was living with her at the time.
The woman was cross-examined by the second accused Darrel Ponton’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes.
However, Peter Hughes, the Attorney representing the interest of Narine for the second time, was not in court and, as such, Narine took notes of everything being said.
The matter will continue today when Sarjou’s sister and niece will give their testimony.
