TWELVE years after Babita Sarjou disappeared without a trace, her ex-husband Sharadananda Narine, called ‘Anand’ and his co-accused Darel Ponton, called ‘Yankee’, have admitted that they killed her and buried her remains in a shallow grave.

The two men were, on Monday, arraigned at the High Court. After repeatedly proclaiming their innocence, they have finally confessed to the brutal crime which had sent shockwaves across Guyana.

When the men appeared before High Court Judge, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, they both pleaded not guilty to the crime and a 12-member jury was later empanelled for their trial.

However, less than three hours later, the pair opted to change their plea to guilty. Sentencing was deferred until February 6.

Narine is being represented by attorney Siand Dhurjon, while attorney Nigel Hughes and his associates are on record for Ponton.

On November 4, 2010, Babita Sarjou left her mother’s home at Timehri, after making arrangements to meet Narine, who was taking her to see the Diwali motorcade at the Kitty seawall.

She was also to meet their four-year-old son. Sarjou reportedly met her husband outside the National Cultural Centre (NCC), entered his car and was never seen or heard from after that night.

Sarjou’s mother, Champa Seonarine, never gave up hope as she was convinced that Narine played a role in her daughter’s disappearance.

With this in mind, she sought the help of the Caribbean American Domestic Awareness Organisation (CADVA), and together they relentlessly pleaded with the police to reopen the case.

In 2016, they got a glimmer of hope when Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, reopened the investigation after receiving new information. Police investigators were now treating the case as a homicide.

Sarjou’s estranged husband was further questioned and subsequently led the investigating team to a shallow grave in his backyard. Ranks found skeletal remains.

Narine had allegedly said that he was furious because he suspected that she was having an affair with a man at her workplace. He was also angry that she had taken him to court on allegations that he had posted nude pictures of her online.

Further probing also revealed that Narine had promised Ponton a measly $50,000 and a trip to Trinidad if he killed Sarjou. However, Narine claimed that he paid Ponton $100,000.

Within days of the discovery, the men were charged for murdering Sarjou.

In 2017, following a preliminary inquiry before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, they were committed to stand trial before a judge and jury in the High Court.