Latest update October 5th, 2026 10:20 AM
Feb 23, 2023 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
– Woman walks free after new trial for murder of uncle
Kaieteur News – Forty-three-year-old Vishawantie Ragnauth, who was on trial for the 2014 murder of her uncle Sunil Ramsundar was on Wednesday freed of the indictment.
Ragnauth along with her reputed husband, Nyron Thakurdyal was initially jointly charged with the capital offence of murder. In 2018, the couple was found guilty of the murder of 39-year-old miner Ramsundar, which occurred on December 26, 2014, at Skull City, Patentia, West Bank Demerara. They were both sentenced to serve 40 years for the crime.
However, the woman appealed the sentence and the Court of Appeal in December 2022 set aside the conviction and ordered a retrial. Thakurdyal died in prison, while Ragnauth faced a new trial before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court.
On Wednesday, after one hour of deliberating, the jury returned with a unanimous not guilty verdict. Ragnauth was represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas and the State was represented by Tanesha Saigon, Marisa Edwards, Abiola Lowe, and Delon Fraser.
The State’s case was that Ramsundar was killed after he attempted to settle a dispute between his sister, Ragnauth (his niece), and Thakurdyal. It was reported that about 22:00 hours on Boxing Day 2014, Ramsundar was allegedly stabbed and killed by his niece and her spouse, after he attempted to settle a disagreement.
On the day, Ragnauth assaulted her mother, who is Ramsundar’s sister. Upon seeing his sister crying, the now dead man had approached her to inquire of the problem. After an explanation was given to him, Ramsundar then confronted his niece and an argument ensued between them. Things escalated, and Ragnauth’s spouse and Ramsundar became involved in a scuffle, during which Ramsundar was allegedly stabbed about the body by his niece and the man. The injured man collapsed and was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Importantly, during the trial, Ragnauth in her defence stated that she was unsure who stabbed her uncle during the scuffle.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Oct 05, 2026
By Rawle Toney (Kaieteur News) – Guyana’s Golden Jaguars moved to within touching distance of the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup and promotion to League A on Sunday, producing a commanding 8-1...Oct 05, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – The month of October is known as Cancer Awareness Month. And it is time that our nation takes a sober look at this disease and its effects. The statistics themselves tell us why the conversation matters. According to recent reports in the media, at least 704 Guyanese were...Oct 04, 2026
By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – The Caribbean did not start, or participate in, the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, nor the other continuing conflicts in the Middle East. Yet millions of Caribbean people are paying a price for them every day. They pay it at petrol...Oct 05, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – Want to see the PPP Govt’s true colours? Expose it as the premier national criminal enterprise in Guyana and watch it go crazy. Want to watch the national leadership degrade in the worst way? Give it the public label of the region’s leading national criminal...Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com