The discovery sent scores of residents to the scene. 
Diawantie, known as “Auntie” and “Fat Lady,” lived alone and was last seen alive by her caretaker, whose name has been given as Shanta.

She told this newspaper that she last saw the woman alive on Sunday afternoon, when she attended to the woman and put her to bed just before 18:00hrs, then left for her home. 
Shanta added that, early yesterday morning, she received information that the old woman’s door was open and that she appeared to be lying on the floor. 

She immediately went to the woman’s house and saw the woman with her night gown thrust up to her neck lying in a pool of blood. 

“Her face was battered…There was blood on her pillow, on the bed, and on the floor leading to her bed…The entire house was ransacked,” according to Shanta.  
The Police were informed, after which a squad of detectives travelled from the Essequibo Coast to the scene of the crime.

Neighbours told this newspaper that no one heard any cry for help.  The woman’s body has since been removed to a mortuary on the Essequibo Coast for an autopsy.
The only known relative of the dead woman is a grandson, whose name has been given as Vijai, and who lives on the West Coast of Demerara.

The Sans Souci Masjid signalled its intention to take responsibility for the funeral arrangements.
The last murder was recorded in Wakenaam in 2004, when 12-year-old Julie Sooklall, a schoolgirl, was beaten, raped and murdered by three young men. 
The accused have since been incarcerated.

Fire-Eccles-house  Wife stabs reputed husband Handicapped-girl-raped

The young man currently in Police custody for the woman’s murder is also a prime suspect in the break-and-enter of a dwelling house on Saturday night. 

The retired school teacher who owned the dwelling house also lived alone, but had travelled unexpectedly to visit a relative who had taken ill off the island. 

Neighbours observed the teacher’s door open and telephoned her.

She returned and discovered that more than $20,000 in jewellery and other articles had been stolen, and the house had been ransacked. 

Entry into that house was gained by removing a louvre window pane and opening a door for which a key was left in the lock.

[Funeral  Arrival Day 15-Year-raped-killed  Bandits-strangle-woman]

Tuesday, May 27, 2008