CAMPBELLVILLE resident, Orlando Douglas, was, on Tuesday, committed to stand trial at the High Court, for the July 2018 murder of Pandit Deonarine Lilah, 61, and his 28-year-old son Omkar Liliah, at their Craig Street, Campbellville home.

Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman, who is presiding at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, ruled that a prima facie case was made out against Douglas based on the evidence presented by Inspector Shellon Daniels. The preliminary inquiry (PI), which had commenced before Magistrate Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, concluded at the Providence Magistrate’s Court where she is now stationed. Douglas is set to go on trial before a judge and jury at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

The charge against Douglas stated that between July 7, 2018 and July 10, 2018 at Craig Street, Campbellville, he murdered the two men during the course of a robbery. Douglas was represented by attorney Melville Duke.

According to reports, the Pandit and his son, Omkar, were last seen alive on July 7 at their Craig Street, Campbellville home. That same day, another son had called from overseas and was told by the father that he was going “to a wuk” at 19:00hrs. However, three days later, on July 10, the said son received a call from a tenant, an Indian national who was renting a bond, and who said that the two people had not been seen for days. Also, that a foul smell was emitting from the upper flat where they had resided.

This prompted the son to telephone an uncle, who, upon calling Pandit’s cell phone and receiving no answer, summoned the police. The police, upon arrival, recognised that the back door was ajar and the decomposed bodies of the men were on the floor. The son’s body was found in a back bedroom partially covered under a mattress, and that of the father in the hallway.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the victims had been stabbed a total of 66 times. The father sustained 34 stab wounds and the son 32. Police subsequently recovered CCTV footage which showed a male individual jumping the western fence and entering the home.
In addition, the police managed to trace one of the victim’s cellphone which was stolen from the home back to Douglas who had gone to try to sell the equipment at Leopold Street. Also, he, Douglas, was positively pointed out during an identification parade. Several witnesses, including Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, had testified during, a voir dire, (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of statements given by a witness for the prosecution.