A CAUTION statement and oral statements made by the alleged mastermind in the murder of Babita Sarjou were allowed to form part of the prosecution’s evidence during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday ruled that based on evidence led in the Voir Dire [a trial within a trial], the court was satisfied that the statements made by the accused, Sharadananda Narine, were freely and voluntarily made to the ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Narine, who is Sarjou’s ex-spouse, of Lot 51, Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown and Darel Ponton called ‘Yankee’ of Lot 54, Broad Street, Charlestown are jointly charged and on remand for the woman’s murder.

Narine had objected to the statements being admitted into evidence, claiming that he was denied access to his Attorney and was promised by detectives that he would be sent home if he gave the caution statement. The murder accused further contended that at the time of the caution statement, he was suffering from a migraine.

It is alleged that on November 4, 2010, Sarjou left her Timehri, East Bank Demerara home, informing her mother that she was going to meet her husband and son at the Kitty Seawall to view the annual Diwali Motorcade. When she did not return home that night, her mother became worried and filed a missing person’s report.
After many months of searching and treating the case as a missing person, the case was closed. However in 2016, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum reopened the case, treating it as a homicide, since new information had surfaced.

Following new investigations into the matter, Sarjou’s estranged husband was questioned, and he subsequently led the investigating team to the shallow grave of Babita Sarjou, which had been dug in his own backyard.

Investigations have also revealed that Narine had paid Ponton GY$50,000 and had promised him a trip to Trinidad if he killed Sarjou.

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into this matter will continue on February 27, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.