SUNILDATT Balack, the man who allegedly murdered his wife and buried her in the backyard of his Lot 117 Mibicuri North,Black Bush Polder home, was on Monday charged with the capital offence of murder.
Balack called “Red Bai” appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that between September 6, 2016 and March 31, 2017, he murdered his wife,Lilwantie Balack called “Daling” and buried her in the backyard behind his bora and ochro garden.
He was remanded to prison until May 2, 2017, when he will make his second court appearance at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court. The farmer showed no remorse when the charge was read to him and as he exited the courtyard, his children looked on with despair.
One of the children said they are all still in a state of shock and disbelief over the death of their mother,and it hurts even more that it was their father who allegedly committed the gruesome murder.
On March 31, the skeletal remains suspected to be that of Lilwantie Balack ,40,was dug up in the backyard of the Black Bush Polder home she shared with her husband. She was last seen and heard from sometime in August 2016, a few days before her 40th birthday,and the family was told by the husband that she was visiting relatives in the United States.
However, seven months later the woman’s children did not hear from her, something they found to be rather strange. It was not until March 29, 2017, after visiting the office of the Prime Minister in Region Six, that an official report was made to the police.
The father, who is a farmer, was immediately taken into custody; he initially denied knowledge of her whereabouts but cracked under pressure during interrogation and reportedly confessed to her murder last Thursday night.
He reportedly strangled her until she became unconscious following an argument, after she had told him she wanted to migrate to the US. It was then that he decided to bury her in a garden aback of his yard at Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder. Relatives also noted that Lilwantie suffered years of physical abuse from Balack. The couple had lived together for 20 years and had four children together.
LIVING WITH A MURDERER
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Oma Devi Nathoo, the new lover whom Balack befriended a mere two months after he would have committed the dreadful act, was also present at the Whim Magistrate’s Court in support of the victim.
In an interview with this newspaper, the young lady said the man should face the full brunt of the law, noting that she too could have suffered the same fate. She said that after she learnt of the murder, her life became a “horror story.”
According to Nathoo, she only decided to move in with Balack after he told her that the wife migrated to the U.S. Nathoo wore the dead woman’s clothing and wedding ring.
“His mother doesn’t live far away from us;he would come around and talk. His mother and me family a gree good. He does come by we house and we does go by them house,so we get to know each other,” she said.
The young lady admitted that she loved him and tried to live as his wife, but his attitude changed towards her a month after she moved in.
“He start behave different. Very controlling and passionate, he don’t even like me talk to my parents, he get upset…plenty time he does even threaten me. One time when he hit me, I report it to the Police and got a medical and I leff he. He then come home to my parents but he come and beg me to go back with he.”
Nathoo was initially taken into police custody but was released after Balack reportedly confessed to the crime. When she learnt of his confession, Nathoo said she felt “sick in her stomach.”
“I was upset. I was frightened. I couldn’t believe I was living with a murderer and the fact she(the victim) was right there all the time [buried in the back yard], made me miserable; I was trembling.”
With the support of her family, Nathoo said she would move on but will not forget what she endured.
“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat after all this. I don’t think I can have feelings for anyone anymore. I will move on with my life. I have my family who are very supportive and I am sorry I didn’t listen to my mother first because she never wanted me to go. She never approved of me going to live with him…I really sorry what happened to her [Lilwantie].
