Sister charged with fatal stabbing of Covent Garden mason
The sister of Vishal Hansraj, the Covent Garden mason who was fatally stabbed on Monday night, was yesterday charged with his murder. It is alleged that Debbie Hansraj murdered her brother between April 17 and April 18 at Covent Garden Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara.
The 25-year-old woman was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge after it was read to her by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown. Chief Magistrate McLennan subsequently remanded her to prison and adjourned the proceedings until May 8.
Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that the case file was incomplete as the post-mortem report was still to be received.
He, however, informed that a total of 14 witnesses are expected to testify in the preliminary inquiry into the charge.
Hansraj, 21, was first rushed to the Diamond Diagnosis Centre for medical attention, and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he eventually succumbed.
Sumintra Bridgmohan, the mother of both the deceased and the defendant, had stated that her son left home on Monday to go kite flying on the Sea Dam, and she did not see him again until he returned with his wounds.
She stated that at the time, she was preparing to go to the hospital to tend to an injury, following an altercation she had had with her daughter.
The grieving mother said that her son did not mention to her how he sustained his wounds but kept saying, “Mommy I gon’ dead, I can’t breathe,” while they were on the way to the hospital. A mason is now a remanded prisoner after he was charged yesterday with having over seven pounds of cannabis in his possession.
The charge read to Raymond Vankenie stated that on April 19, at New Amsterdam, Berbice, he had 3.432 kilogrammes (equivalent to 7.5 pounds) of cannabis for trafficking in his possession.
Vankenie, 40, denied the charge after it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown.
Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat told the court that the cannabis was found in the vehicle that Vankenie had borrowed and he had no knowledge of it.
He requested the earliest date for the commencement of trial.
The prosecutor told the court that the file was incomplete.
Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded Vankenie and adjourned the case until May 8, when it will be called at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.