Father charged with children double murder in court
JOHN Blanchard, 31, who, allegedly, killed two of his children and seriously wounded a stepchild, in a bizarre killing earlier this week, appeared in court yesterday. Before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, he was charged with the murders of Daniel and Belika Blanchard on October 12, when his stepdaughter, Joy was also severely chopped about her body.
The accused wore a blank look on his face when the double murder charge was read to him, in relation to the offences committed at Soesdyke.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, told the court, the three children were asleep at the time of the attack with two knives, used to stab them several times.
The third victim also suffered injuries and is in a critical state at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH.
The prosecutor reported that there is a total of 12 prosecution witnesses and he requested that the case be transferred to the Providence Court.
But the magistrate decided that the case will be called, again, in Georgetown, on November 1.
Ten-year-old Belika and her four-year-old brother, Daniel, were pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, also on East Bank Demerara, before Joy was admitted to the GPH.
Up until the tragedy, their father seemed to be a well-mannered man said his neighbours, one of whom had seen Blanchard and the children earlier this week.
The neigbour expressed shock when he heard the tragic news.