THREE weeks after pleading not guilty to the gruesome triple murder at Black Bush Polder in July 2016, Carlton Chetram called “Lieman” and his employee, Rakesh Karamchand called “Go to Front”, have decided to change their plea.

The trial of the two men and their co-accused, Tameshwar Jagmohan, called “Guana” commenced, on Wednesday, before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury at the Berbice High Court. They were charged for three counts of murder.

However, after listening to the testimonies of the state witnesses, Carlton and Karamchand opted to plead guilty to manslaughter. The murder trial for Jagmohan will continue.

Carlton and Karamchand admitted that, on July 21, 2016, at Mibicuri Creek Savannah, Black Bush Polder, they unlawfully killed Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin” and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 35, called “Teeka Bai” and “Mice.”

The judge ordered that probation reports be prepared for both Carlton and Karamchand. He then adjourned the matter until February 17, 2022, for the presentation of the report and sentencing.

On January 24, 2022, Carlton’s son, Jairam Chetram called “Ryan” who was also charged in connection with the crime, pleaded guilty to murder before Justice Kissoon. He is expected to be sentenced on February 10, 2022.

The Guyana Chronicle had previously reported that, on the day in question, the three victims had gone on a fishing trip in the Black Bush Polder backlands in an area called Cookrite Savannah, some three miles from Mibicuri, where they were allegedly gunned down by the quartet.

The men, each with a single gunshot wound, were found lying in a rice field belonging to Sudama Jagmohan, who made the gruesome discovery.

The youngest victim was found next to his father. He had a gaping hole to the back of his head and a ‘salt bag’ with fish and a fishing net strung around his neck.

Rooplall’s body had a hole in the neck and the fishing net was strung over his shoulder, while the older Charandradeo had his fishing net in his hand.

It is alleged that the men, while on their fishing trip, stumbled upon “Lieman” and his crew who were allegedly stealing diesel fuel in the said field.

It was reported that Jairam, who was armed with his father’s firearm, fired two shots in the air and the fishermen ran towards the dam and fell. Jairam then shot the victims to their heads at point blank range.

When arrested, Jairam told police that he killed the men to get rid of the evidence. “Meh na been want leff no evidence so I shoot them,” Jairam had said in his caution statement to the policeman.