-says they were killed, house set alight to protect identity of robbers

THE badly mutilated bodies of an elderly Black Bush Polder couple were discovered on Tuesday morning, shortly after neighbours successfully quelled a fire at their home.

Dead are 67-year-old Subnauth Budraj, called “Bullboy and Bud”, and his wife Sarasuati Devi Budraj, called “Sita”. They were found a short distance from each other in the lower flat of their Lot 26 CZ South Yakasari, Black Bush Polder home at approximately 04:00 hours.

The couple lived alone in the property where they also operated an off-licence liquor store.

Police have since determined that they were the victims of a robbery/murder and have detained seven persons including a 22-year-old man of Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, who has been identified the prime suspect. The man has reportedly confessed to his role in the crime, telling detectives that the husband and wife were killed because they would have been able to identify him and the others who had broken into the property to commit a robbery.

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived at the scene, many residents had gathered and they expressed shock at what had transpired.

They related that they heard a loud explosion and subsequently saw smoke and fire emanating from the house. An alarm was raised and residents formed a bucket brigade. The fire was extinguished before the arrival of the firefighters and the police.

Sarasuati’s nephew, Satesh Persaud told this publication that he received a call around 04:15 hours about the fire.

He said he immediately contacted another aunt and went to the scene.
Persaud recalled that when he arrived, the residents were already tackling the fire with buckets of water and had the situation under control.

He did not see his aunt and uncle, and moments after he began making enquiries about their whereabouts, he was told that they were both dead.

Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that soon after the police arrived, ranks entered the premises where they found the couple. His aunt was in a pool of blood on the floor with a knife protruding from her neck. Her entire left hand was burnt. Her husband was found a short distance away with gaping wounds on his neck and other parts of his body. He was covered in blood.

According to Persaud, the entire house was ransacked and most of the valuable items were missing.

“The whole house tumble upstairs and downstairs; all the cash and the jewelry gone. All of them bags and drawers open,” he said.

The lower flat which houses a bond, was badly damaged.

QUIET PEOPLE

Meanwhile, Rovindra Goberdhan who was part of the bucket brigade said he heard a loud explosion and when he looked through his window, he noticed fire emanating from the lower flat of the couple’s house.

“I rush out and same time a next neighbour run come and say, Fire! Fire! So, I turned back and grab a bucket and start throw water. The fire spread lil bigger and more guys come in and went around the next side and try out it and soon after the police come,” the man recalled.

Another neighbor, Dindyal Budhoo recounted that during the time they were dousing the fire they were shouting for the elderly couple as they thought they were asleep.

“Me never though meh would ah see this in meh community. Them people nah trouble nobody, them quiet quiet and old… meh hope ah police find them [the killers] soonest and let we get justice. Them old people nah deserve this”, he said.

The dead woman sister, Savitry Devi Jasodra, 62 was inconsolable at the scene.

She related that she spent time with her sister on Monday afternoon during which they cooked together.

“Me can’t even believe wha happen to meh sister. Only yesterday afternoon me see them. Me brother-in-law and me sister nah get problem with anybody. Yesterday afternoon, me and she was cooking and I left deh around 3 [15:00 hours]. Till now meh deh in one shock,” Jasodra said.

The two victims were described as quiet and friendly.

Region Six Vice-Chairman, Zamal Hussain and Regional Executive Officer (REO), Narendra Persaud were among those who visited community to offer comfort and to express sympathy to the grieving relatives.

The couple leaves to mourn three children who resides abroad.

BREAKTHROUGH

Investigators were able to make a major breakthrough in the case following the arrest of several men and women.

One of the suspects reportedly confessed to the crime and implicated another.

He reportedly told investigators that they never intended to kill the couple. However, during the robbery they recognised them. It was then it was decided that they would kill them both and set fire to the building to cover their tracks and reduce their chances of being captured.

The suspect claimed that he used a gas bottle and pieces of paper to start the fire which quickly spread through the lower flat.
Regional Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus told the media that jewellery, phone cards, cash and other items belonging to the couple were recovered at the prime suspect’s home.