SURAJ Verasammy, called ‘Radesh’, who is the main suspect in the Corentyne body-in-barrel murder, was, on Sunday, apprehended by the police under the Canje Bridge.
Verasammy, 30, was being sought by the police for questioning into the horrific murder of a 24-year-old female, who has only been identified as “Vanessa”.

The battered, partially decomposed body of the young woman was found stuffed in a blue plastic barrel that was partially submerged in a small trench through the R & S Street in Belvedere, East Berbice, Corentyne, a few houses away from where the couple resided. The discovery was made on Saturday morning by a resident, after he picked up a pungent scent coming from the trench. Upon investigating, he saw a foot dangling out the barre. He then raised an alarm.

The woman was strangled with a bed sheet which was still tied around her neck at the time of discovery, while her face was smashed in, to the point where facial identification was impossible. There were several other marks of violence about the body.

The couple was last see together on Thursday. Verasammy, who works as a labourer on a poultry farm, failed to report for work but showed up on Saturday morning to borrow some money from his employer; he told them he was going to an Upper Corentyne village.
The couple moved into the area about three months ago. Neighbours related to this publication that they would usually engage in frequent quarrels. The neighbours were also instrumental in providing some confirmation as to who the dead woman was, since they were able to recognise the barrel as one of two that belonged to the couple. A search of the yard revealed that one of the barrels was missing.

The police, since Saturday, have been tracking the whereabouts of Verasammy; they finally managed to nab him under the Canje Bridge. He is presently in police custody, being grilled by detectives.

Meanwhile, the mother of the suspect, Sattie Verasammy, told this publication that if indeed her son committed the gruesome act, he should pay with his life. The mother explained that the young woman is a Venezuelan who has been with her son for about five months now. She noted that her son has a chequered past.

“Radesh always getting in some trouble; he been in and out of jail plenty time and does thief down to the smallest thing. He is a nuisance. He does only cause trouble; that girl was such a kind and humble person,” she said.

She added that after her son introduced the girl to the family, he promised to settle down and change his ways.

The body is currently at the Bailey’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem investigation. The police are currently trying to establish a positive identification and gather more evidence as it relates to a motive for the murder.