Neighbour detained in granny’s murder

Aug 30, 2009 News

Police have detained a La Grange, West Bank Demerara man for the brutal murder of 80-year-old, Kharpattie Shivnauth, called ‘Ma’, who was found gagged and bound to her bed on Friday night.
The man, who is a neighbour of Mrs. Shivnauth, was taken into custody yesterday and was still being questioned at the La Grange Police Station.

Kharpattie Shivnauth with a relative

Kaieteur News understands that detectives are considering the man as a prime suspect after receiving reports that he was seen acting in a suspicious manner near the elderly woman’s home on Thursday night.
A source said that Shivnauth had also chased the man from her yard two weeks ago after he had tried to sell her a gold chain. Residents described the suspect as a drug user who moved to the area some months ago.
Shivnauth, who lived alone at Lot 66 Independence Road, La Grange, was found at around 19:00 hrs by her son and other relatives.
She was naked and bound to her bed with strips of cloth. A grand-daughter also said that a dress was stuffed into her mouth.
The primary motive appeared to be robbery, since the killer(s) had stripped their victim of a pair of gold earrings, gold bangles and a ring that she always wore.
The victim’s son believes that the killer(s) gained entry via an eastern window.
Relatives believe ‘Ma’ was slain on Thursday night, shortly after returning from a La Grange Mandir.
Bhemwatie Ram, the victim’s grand-daughter and closest neighbour, told Kaieteur News that a taxi driver brought ‘Ma’ home at around 20:00 hrs on Thursday night.
She recalled that on entering the yard, the elderly woman rested in a hammock under her house.
The grand-daughter described ‘Ma’ as an active individual who was usually up and about in her yard by 05:00 hrs.
She explained that on Fridays, in particular, the grandmother would pick flowers and pray in a small temple in her yard.
The grand-daughter said she became concerned about her grandmother on Friday morning after failing to see her. According to the woman, she went across at Mrs. Shivnauth’s home at around 14:30 hrs and assumed that her grandmother was out, since the front door was padlocked. But then her suspicions were aroused when she also saw that one of the windows and a door to Shivnauth’s bottom-house kitchen was ajar.
She became even more concerned when she observed that several kitchen towels were on the ground.
The grand-daughter said she began to inquire at other relatives about her grandmother’s whereabouts, but no one seemed to know where she was.
She then decided to call an aunt and Mrs. Shivnauth’s son, Goupaul Nauth.
They then ventured into the elderly woman’s yard and they observed a hat and dress belonging to ‘Ma’. They also noticed strips of cloth in the yard.
Using a key, the relatives opened the front door, and observed that the house was ransacked. The woman said that at first, she assumed that ‘Ma’ was out and thieves had broken into her house.
That belief was dispelled when they entered the woman’s bedroom and discovered her body.
An autopsy is likely to be performed on the victim tomorrow.