-accused remanded and to reappear in court October 18
TWO days after the body of Nessa Lalita Gopaul was laid to rest her stepfather Jarvis Small and her mother Bibi Shareema Gopaul were yesterday charged for murdering her at Madewini, East Bank Demerara.
Both accused appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and were remanded to prison after the joint murder charge was read to them. In the dock both accused stood silently and emotionless when the charge was read stating that between September 24 and October 2, at Madewini they murdered Nessa Lalita Gopaul. They were not required to enter a plea.
The accused were escorted to court by several investigating officers at around 14:30 hours and were both handcuffed.
Bibi Shareema Gopaul the number two murder accused was represented by defence counsel Mr. Vic Puran but Small was unrepresented.
Puran said that the only application he has, is for the matter to be transferred to the West Demerara Court.
However, the magistrate informed the lawyer that the matter cannot he transferred because the charge was instituted in the Georgetown Magisterial District.
In response, Puran said he cannot understand why the state has given itself such a heavy burden.
Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey, prosecuting told the court that the deceased is the daughter of Bibi Shareema Gopaul and on September 24 she reported to the Leonora Police Station that her daughter Nessa lilita Gopaul was missing.
The prosecutor said subsequently on October 2, a discovery of a suitcase was made at Madewini and the body of Nessa Lilita Gopaul was found inside.
Harvey disclosed that both of the accused were arrested based on items found at the scene.
The mother and stepfather of the deceased were both remanded to prison and will return to court on October 18.
As the two accused exited the police vehicle in separate handcuffs the cameras of various media houses were focused on their faces to captured the cold look that were present on their faces.
While the murder accused were being taken upstairs to the court a group gathered in the court yard to get a glimpse of the accused. The group of mostly women shouted to the woman in scorn.
“Is shame you don’t have to murder your own daughter fuh ah man. They should hang you. You cruel fuh murder your own flesh and blood” one woman said angrily.
No other family member was present in court except for the sister of Bibi Shareema Gopaul.
The murder accused were taken into custody since October 3, and the police were granted an extension by the High Court to have the accused remain in custody. That extension would have expired today.
The body of Nessa Lalita Gopaul was found in a suitcase in the Madewini Creek in the vicinity of Emerald Tower Resort on Saturday October 2, 2010, at about 14:00hrs and at the time was believed to be headless.
However, after a post mortem examination it was revealed that the body was not headless and was instead clobbered beyond recognition.
Dumbbells similar to those found in a gym owned by Small were found tied to the suitcase in which the body was found.
Samples of what appeared to be blood and hair were taken from the residence of the said Bibi Shareema Gopaul and taken to the Police Forensic Department for testing.
As the murder of the teen circulated many were accused of failing the teen who was suffering for sometime.