Mom, lover charged with Neesa’s murder

Oct 09, 2010 News

By Latoya Giles

Gym instructor Jarvis Small and his lover, Bibi Sherima Gopaul, were yesterday remanded to prison for the gruesome murder of Gopaul’s 16-year-old daughter, Neesa Gopaul, whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase two Saturdays ago.
A dazed-looking Bibi Gopaul stood silently in the Georgetown Magistrates Court as Magistrate Priya Beharry informed the couple of the charges.
Small stood impassively by his lover’s side.
Meanwhile, his wife, Marceline, was seen crying in the courtyard.
The two made their surprise appearance in court around 14:30 hrs, shortly after a report on the matter was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The few onlookers that were present hurled disparaging remarks at the accused as they were led out of court in handcuffs,
It was alleged that between September 24, last and October 2, at Madewini on the Soesdyke – Linden Highway, the two murdered Neesa Lalita Gopaul.
Police Prosecutor, Lionel Harvey, stated that the young girl went missing on September 23, and a report was made at the Leonora Police Station by her mother on September 25.
Harvey explained that someone made the gruesome discovery at the Emerald Towers Resort, on the Highway on October 2.
The teen’s disfigured body was found in a large suitcase.
Harvey further told the court that after certain articles were found in the suitcase, the two defendants were arrested and later charged with murder.
Attorney at Vic Puran who represented Gopaul was merely retained about 30 minutes prior to the woman appearing in court.
In brief comments to Kaieteur News after the hearing, Puran said that he hoped that the police had done their work thoroughly and that he believed that his client would be exonerated.
The only application the lawyer made was for the matter to be transferred to the West Coast Demerara magisterial district for preliminary inquiry.
However he was informed by the magistrate that charge read “at Madewini” so the case would have to remain in Georgetown.
The matter was adjourned for October 18, for report and statements.
Meanwhile, police officials told Kaieteur News that a drugstore owner’s son who was detained on Thursday was still in custody.

Mom: Bibi Sharima Gopaul

Police are said to be looking for another person who may be able to assist in the investigation.
Neesa Gopaul’s body, with most of her head missing, was discovered on Saturday in a suitcase near the Emerald Tower Resort at Madewini, off the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
The black suitcase was dumped into the Madewini Creek.
A length of rope was wrapped around the body and the killer(s) had attached two dumb-bells, weighing more 80 pounds, to the other end of the rope in an effort to weigh the body down.
The victim was wearing a pair of black shorts and a multi-coloured top.
The victim’s passport and a bank card were found with the remains.
The gruesome find was made around noon by a family that had gone to the abandoned resort to swim in the Madewini Creek.
Information provided to investigators indicates that the schoolgirl was lured into a life of drugs and was sexually abused.
It is believed that she was murdered for a property that was bequeathed to herself and her younger sister.
The Home Affairs and Human Services Ministries have both acknowledged that police, welfare officials and the victim’s relatives failed to do enough to save Neesa.