Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
2016 Black Bush Polder triple murder…Remaining duo gets life without parole
Kaieteur News – The two remaining convicts in the murder case of Pawan Chandradeo, Jaikarran Chandradeo and Naresh Rooplall of Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder (BBP), were on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment on three counts each, without the possibility of parole.
This was the decision of Justice Sandil Kissoon, as he handed down the sentence at the Berbice High Court.
Carlton Chaitram called ‘Lie-man’, 44, of lot 36 Mibicuri South, BBP and Rakesh Karamchand called ‘Go-to-front’ of Sheet Anchor, East Canje Berbice, will spend the rest of their life behind bars, despite pleas for leniency by Chaitram before the sentence was handed down.
Carlton Chaitram called ‘Lie-man’
Both men were charged for murder in January but during trial, opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
Wife of Pawan Chandradeo, mother of Jaikarran Chandradeo and sister of Naresh Rooplall, Indrawattie Rooplall called “Pam” of Mibicuri South, BBP in her victim impact statement, said that Carlton Chaitram broke her heart, since he mingled with her family when her husband, son and brother were alive.
Chaitram told the court via zoom from the New Amsterdam Prison, that he will provide a tractor to the family of the deceased men and teenager and also give a plot of rice land to them if he is given a chance. This was said after the judge asked if he had anything to say before the sentencing.
“I will never see the deceased family punish…I asking for a chance, I go help them plant a plot of rice and help them, I go give them a tractor…abee (we) not living far from matty (each other), I go always help them…I begging you sir…I live with them like family, I begging you please sir,” Chaitram pleaded.
His probation report presented by Probation Officer, Dionne Douglas, detailed that Carlton was the eldest sibling of four and that he attended the Mibicuri Primary for a short period of time before leaving due to financial constraints.
He would have subsequently assisted his parents with their cattle and cash crop farming but when he turned 16, his father started rice cultivation and he began assisting with that significantly.
In the report, Carlton described himself as a ‘loving and caring’ individual but that he consumed alcohol occasionally.
He said, he was never involved in conflict but if he was, they would reconcile.
Rakesh Karamchand called ‘Go-to-front’
Carlton was however described by members of the community as a trouble maker “who always used money as a tool to get what he wanted” and that his call name “Lie-man”, speaks for itself.
Karamchand on the other hand, said that he only dropped the men off at the location with his boat and that he left for fishing but shortly after heard gunshots.
“I got five grand-children and me never know dem…I begging for mercy”, he said.
In his probation report presented by Judith Vankennie, Karamchand said he grew up in an abusive home with his father being abusive towards his mother.
He even recalled an incident where his father chopped his mother on her arm when she confronted him about his unfaithfulness, this resulted in his mother moving out of the home. They moved and lived with his maternal aunt at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Later on in his life he gained employment as a fisherman and his catch was given to his aunt to be sold at the market for money.
He was nonetheless described by some community members as a “very wicked person” while others described him as a peaceful individual.
The victims were shot dead on a dam in Kookrit Savannah, Black Bush Polder in 2016 while they were on a fishing trip. The bullet-riddled bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, both of Mibicuri North BBP and Naresh Rooplall, of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, were found on July 22, in the Kookrit Savannah, BBP. The remains bore gaping gunshot wounds to the head and upper bodies.
The bodies were found by a rice farmer of Black Bush Polder and his workmen. It was reported that 13-year-old Alvin Chandradeo, who accompanied his father Pawan and brother Jaikarran was left at a pump station on a dam while the others went further into the Savannah to fish. The lad stayed at the pump station from where he reportedly heard gunshots. In October 2018, the four men were committed to stand trial in the High Court for the brutal murders. A fifth man who was charged with accessory after the fact was granted $2M bail in 2016.
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