The remains of a pensioner were on Sunday evening discovered burning in her backyard. It is suspected that the woman was murdered and set alight in her backyard by the perpetrator.
Murdered: Bhagwandai Deonarain, also called “Deeda”
The dead woman has been identified as 73-year-old Bhagwandai Deonarain, also called “Deeda”, of Lot 5 Plantation Hope, West Coast Berbice.
Police in a release said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the pensioner, whose burnt remains were discovered in a dried-out pond at the back of her premises at about 19:45h.
A large portion of the victim’s estate (land) was also discovered destroyed by fire, the release indicated.
Deonarain lived alone and the Police had to be called to the house to investigate since it was reported that at about 17:30h there were no lights on in the building which is highly unusual.
According to the now dead woman’s niece, Shanie Singh, she first contacted the Police and then family members went to check on the woman.
She explained that there were no signs of forced entry. “So we come downstairs and then we see smoke at the back and they (family members) decide to go and check. Is then they call everybody to come and see where they found the body.”
Singh said she only saw a part of the woman’s body when she rushed to the scene. “Just the head and shoulder part but beyond you cannot see anything else,” she explained.
The area where the burnt remains of the woman were found
Coconut branches and dried coconuts were used to fuel the fire, and with the prevailing dry weather conditions, the flames also spread to nearby vegetation but had been reduced to smoke by the time the Police arrived and ventured into the backyard.
Deonarain had been living there since 1988 with her husband who died in 2015.
A few years ago, she had a tenant living in the lower flat. He reportedly broke into the upper flat and robbed the pensioner. She was also beaten during the robbery. Deonarain gave evidence against him in court, causing him to be jailed. He was however released from prison last year.
Police in a release said a man is currently in custody assisting with the investigation.
The home belonging to the now dead pensioner
The dead woman’s sister, Chan Sukhra, told Guyana Times that her eldest sister had been living in fear. She explained that her sister lost four of her teeth as a result of the beating she received from the ex-convict. As a result, she underwent surgery to remove a clot from her brain.
Reports are Deonarain had sold all of her jewellery before her husband died and lived off of her pension and assistance from family members.
Sukhra referred to her sister as being very religious and kind. The pensioner’s remains are currently at Bailey’s Parlour awaiting an autopsy. She leaves to mourn four sisters and one brother. The Police are continuing their investigations. (Andrew Carmichael)
