Trial begins for Corentyne man accused of burning wife to death

Aug 13, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – A 12-member jury was empanelled on Wednesday at the Berbice High Court in New Amsterdam for the trial of a Corentyne man facing a murder charge stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred four years ago.

Justice Gino Persaud is presiding over the matter involving 54-year-old Seelall Dipnarine, who is accused of killing his wife, 42-year-old Tavita Lall, also called ‘Tasha’, of No. 64 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Trial begins for Corentyne man accused of burning wife to death

Accused of murder: Seelall Dipnarine

Dead: Tavita ‘Tasha’ Lall

The incident dates back to January 13, 2022. According to reports, Lall was cooking at home when Dipnarine poured kerosene on her and then quickly set her alight.

Lall, a mother of four, was initially taken to the Skeldon Hospital for treatment but was later referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital owing to the severity of her burns. When her condition proved beyond the capacity of that hospital, she was admitted to the Burns Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she underwent surgery. She suffered severe injuries to her face and body and was given a 50/50 chance of survival by doctors.

Lall had reportedly endured years of abuse at the hands of her husband and was seeking to end their relationship. Dipnarine is believed to have acted in rage over the woman’s decision to leave him.

According to reports, after setting her on fire, Dipnarine sat on the veranda while frantic neighbours, drawn by her screams of anguish, arrived and attempted to enter the home to rescue her.

He was arrested and remanded to prison on a charge of attempted murder. One month later, however, Lall succumbed to her injuries, and the charge against him was upgraded to murder.

At court on Wednesday, when given the opportunity to plead, Dipnarine pleaded not guilty, officially setting the trial in motion. He is being represented by attorney Vinay Punwa.

State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards, who presented the indictment against the accused, informed the court that the prosecution will rely on at least 16 witnesses. These include individuals from the community where the deceased lived, several police officers, and two medical doctors, one of whom is a government pathologist.

Dipnarine is set to make his next court appearance on August 18, 2026, at the Berbice High Court.

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