Angry women jeer murder accused

Anand Baboolal, 31, of Cedar Grove, Mayaro, looked stern-faced as he was escorted handcuffed by policemen from the Mayaro Police Station to the courthouse a short distance away. A small crowd of villagers from Solomon Street in Mayaro where Ramlochan lived gathered in the carpark outside the courthouse yesterday morning, and shouted abuse at Baboolal who is charged with the murder of the mother and the baby.

Ramlochan, 25, and son Ishmael Ragbir, two, were stabbed to death. On Saturday evening, the woman’s body wrapped in a plastic bag, was fished out of a cesspit where she lived at Solomon Street. Police found the child’s body floating in a river nearby. Baboolal was charged on Wednesday with two counts of murder.

As police escorted Baboolal into the court’s compound, his mother stood a short distance from the crowd, sobbing. With her were Baboolal’s brother and two sisters.   

The case was the first matter called by presiding Magistrate Jai Narine.

The hearing, which lasted less than five minutes, began with Baboolal standing in an almost empty courtroom.

None of the deceased Ramlochan’s relatives turned up for yesterday’s court hearing. After reading the two charges of murder, Narine asked Baboolal if he had an attorney to represent him.

Baboolal replied that he did not. Asked by the magistrate if he intended to retain an attorney, Baboolal replied that he did not know.

The first charge alleged that Baboolal murdered Ragbir on a date unknown between Tuesday August 9 and Sunday August 14. Narine read the second murder charge which accused Baboolal of killing the baby’s mother, Ria Ramlochan. The magistrate told Baboolal that the charges were laid indictably and he was not called on to enter a plea.

The magistrate then advised Baboolal that he could file an application to have the State provide him with an attorney.

The cases were postponed to next week Friday. Baboolal was remanded in custody.

As Baboolal emerged from the courtroom, two women hurled abuses at him. The charges against Baboolal were laid by Sgt Moses Charles.