Although the Police have made a breakthrough in the Shawnette Savory case, whereby the lead suspect was recently charged for murder, the woman’s body is still to be recovered.
Crime Chief Paul Williams told a news conference on Monday that the Police still have some searching to do, as they have been told by Davendra Ramdial, who was charged last Thursday, of several areas where the body could be found.
However, in addition to that, Williams said Ramdial also told Police of the general area on the East Bank of Demerara where he buried Savory. According to the Crime Chief, inclement weather conditions have served as an impediment to the Police.
Although the body is yet to be recovered, the Crime Chief said the case could be considered solved. He did admit that a lag in this case may have been caused by corrupt Police Officers.
His statement was supported by women’s rights activist, Dianne Madray, of “Let the Woman Talk”, who said that the case could have been solved a long while ago, if the Police had treated the matter professionally.
“Shawnette Savory’s case was prevented by persons who intentionally caused this case to lag for almost two years due to their corrupt behaviour and lackadaisical attitude,” she said.
Madray had approached the Crime Chief and had offered to work along with the Police to crack this case. The United States-based Guyanese activist has worked on a number of local domestic violence cases.
During a joint press conference, Madray used the opportunity to shower praise on the Crime Chief and his staff in the major crimes unit for what she described as “marvellous” work.
The activist said that domestic violence cases, particularly murders, must be tackled and such cases must be properly investigated by Police. She also raised concerns about the need for more training.
Madray has recommended that Police be trained to deal with cases of sensitive nature. She said this was particularly important, because families always look for closure. She offered to provide as much assistance as she could in this regard to the Police Force.
Meanwhile, the mother of the dead woman said she wanted the body to be found so that she could get closure. “I want them to find her body,” a tearful Dhanrajie Murray told the media on Monday. She also said Ramdial had begged for forgiveness and she was prepared to grant that forgiveness.
Ramdial, called “Duck Man”, 34, of Prospect, East Bank Demerara, was charged with the capital offence of murder on Thursday last and appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Savory, 37, disappeared on August 28, 2016 after leaving her apartment at Lot 222 Prospect to pay her electricity bill.
Shortly after her disappearance, the Police issued wanted bulletins for Patrick Bannister and his wife, Ritesha Rahaman. Savory and Rahaman were said to be best friends.
Just after the wanted bulletins were issued, investigators went to the couple’s home at Belle West and dug up the concrete floor of the one-bedroom shack after they were informed that Savory might have been buried there; however, nothing was found.
Savory was last seen alive by her relatives on August 28, 2016.
At the time of her disappearance, Savory worked at a factory making toilet tissue. It is alleged that she shared a relationship with the man who has now confessed to her murder.