Slain cash crop farmer laid to rest

Aug 28, 2015 News

…as spouse faces possible murder charge

Pamela Kendall

Relatives, friends and neighbours turned out in their numbers yesterday to bid farewell to Pamela Kendall, the murdered cash crop farmer of Number 45 Village, even as her spouse faces possible murder charges.

Family and friends gave teary-eyed tributes of the type of woman Kendall was, with “jovial”, “kind-hearted”, and “hardworking”, being some of the expressions used.

During one tribute given by a niece of the dead woman she pleaded for justice for her aunt and stated, in tears: “blood is on your hands, whoever you are”.

Viewing was done at Kendall’s home, where the shooting occurred two Thursdays ago.

The remains were then transported to her brother’s residence, followed by burial at the Number 49 Cemetery.

Deochand Sookchand, her reputed husband, was not present to witness the home-going service, since he is in police custody in Georgetown.

Kaieteur News had reported that forensic tests showed that there were traces of gunpowder on Sookchand’s hands.

Investigators also returned to the murder scene yesterday.

Police expect a response today from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether Sookchand is to be charged.

What is still unclear is the motive for Kendall’s murder, and family, friends and neighbours yesterday still expressed doubt that Kendall’s spouse could have committed the act. Among those expressing shock was one of Kendall’s brothers, who said he could not piece together the puzzle.

Many neighbours have now learnt that Sookchand was deported to Guyana some years ago for cocaine and violent behaviour.

Police were always skeptical about the claims that Kendall was the victim of a robbery attempt. Sookchand’s story about the ‘attack’ also appeared to lack consistency.

They also suspected that the woman’s killer had sent an anonymous call to her home after the murder to throw them off track.

The caller had said: “don’t call my name in anything” before hanging up.

A neighbour who received the call told Kaieteur News that investigators yesterday replayed a recording of the call.

According to her, the caller had an accent and sounded like Sookchand.

Kendall, 56, was reportedly shot shortly after she entered the back door of the family’s home, located near the Number 45 Village Public Road. She managed to run from her home, only to collapse in her brother’s yard, located a few houses away.

The woman’s husband had said that he was having a bath downstairs and his wife was about to close the back door when he heard a single gunshot, and his wife’s screams.
According to Sookchand, he began to scream to alert the neighbours, while one of the alleged bandits, armed with a gun, ran upstairs. Within minutes the intruder returned downstairs and he, along with an accomplice, fled into the backlands.
In a later interview, Sookchand said he was in the bathroom and had just told his wife to close the back door, when he heard her scream. This was followed by a gunshot. He said that he hid in the bathroom and the intruder peered inside, but did not enter. He reportedly heard the man whispering to someone, and this led him to believe the killer had an accomplice.

Sookchand said that he later ran outside to assist his wife, but she had managed to run to her brother’s residence, approximately 100 yards away. She was later pronounced dead at the Skeldon Public Hospital.