Sisters to stand trial for killing father

Jun 28, 2017 News

Nineteen-year-old Nalini Manikram and her 13-year-old sister have been committed to stand trial at the High Court in Georgetown for the murder of their father, Roger Manikram.

The sisters along with Veeran Dais Lall, the 24-year-old boyfriend of Nalini Manikram and Devon Browne, 24, were also committed to stand trial for the capital offence.

Yesterday, the preliminary inquiry into the matter concluded before Magistrate Alisha George in the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts.

Magistrate George ruled that upon revision of the evidence the court is of the opinion that a prima facie case (sufficient evidence) was made out against the four murder accused for the offence.

The prosecution was led by Police Inspector Hattie Anthony. Attorneys-at-Law Dexter Todd and Collette Marks represented Browne and the juvenile respectively.

At a June 14, court hearing, the lawyers during respective no-case submissions had argued that Prosecutor Anthony had failed to present sufficient evidence against their clients to establish the elements of murder.

The attorneys further argued that their clients should not be called upon to answer to the charge nor should they be committed to stand trial at the High Court for the indictable offence

According to reports, the body of 65-year-old Manikram was found on April 3, 2016 in a drain some corners away from his Lot 237 Section B Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara home.

There was reportedly a chop wound to the back of his head.

A post mortem examination performed on his body revealed that he died as a result of brain haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head. There are reports that the father was in the habit of harassing his daughters and they allegedly hatched a plan to kill him. After the pensioner was allegedly hit to the head with an axe by a male suspect, he collapsed to the ground. His body was then wrapped in plastic and transported to the location in a motorcar driven by Browne. The quartet will go before a judge and jury at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. (Feona Morrison)