AFTER exiting the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1 yesterday, Taramattia Daby, mother of slain 17-year-old Dhanrag Latchman, told reporters, amidst tears, that now that she has seen her son’s assailants appear in court, she feels that justice would be served.

She however wants justice to be “swift and stiff”, as it is only then that her heart will be at ease. She told the media that she prayed and begged her son to give her the strength and courage to show up at the court to face the men who killed him; and, dutiful son that he was, he did grant her her wish.

‘My heart will only be at ease when justice is served’ –Mother

Though pleased with the way things have turned out so far, Daby said no one out there knows how she feels inside, knowing she won’t ever be able to see her child alive again, much less talk to him;and to crown it all, knowing the condition in which she got him back after the two persons charged with his murder were done with him.
As she said before, she doesn’t want any settlement for the murder of her son, since he never hurt anyone, and did not deserve to die the way he did. There is no amount of money that can bring him back, she said.
She said she would have been more accepting had the men just robbed him and taken his car without harming him; but to take his life for a car was too much for her bear.
Today makes one week since family members last saw 17-year-old Dhanraj Latchman alive, and that anniversary will be marked with his burial today.
At court yesterday, his mom was surrounded by family members who offered her support and comfort as she sat in the courtroom to hear the matter; and later, she had an opportunity to look the two accused in the eye.
The Chronicle has been given to understand that a lot of work had to be done on the remains of the young man in order for him to be prepared for today’s funeral, since he was already in a state of decomposition after being left in the rain and sun following his murder last Wednesday night.
Latchman was reportedly murdered by his two friends who were planning his death for two weeks as they sought to sell his car. They allegedly told investigators that they killed him at the Parika Backdam.
The teen’s car was discovered several miles from where the men had murdered him, but his body was discovered a day after the car was found.
The suspects did reportedly confess to killing Latchman, and later detailed to the police how the entire plan was crafted.
Meanwhile, another person who was listed as an accessory to the crime was later allowed to testify for the State on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
There has still been no word yet on what the police plan doing with the father of one of the teens who attempted to pervert the course of justice.

(By Leroy Smith)