Man charged with murder of woman who presented bouquet to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 August 2014, 20:11 by GxMedia

An 18-year old man was Thursday arraigned for the alleged murder of a Plaisance woman who had presented a bouquet to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II when she visited here 48 years ago.

Police said 18-year old John Hetsberger of Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate, Alex Moore for the alleged murder of57-year old Jennifer Ann Mendonca on August 8, 2014.

Hetsberger was not required to plea to the indictable charge. He was remanded to prison until September 13, 2014.

Police have already said that jewellery and electronic equipment were missing from the woman’s home.

Her body was found about 9 O’clock Friday night in her home with her mouth and hands tied with duct tape.

Rishi Singh, writing in the Kaieteur News, remembers, Mendonca presenting Queen Elizabeth with the bouquet one day after she and her husband had arrived in Guyana on February 2, 1966. “The next day, Sunday, February 3, 1966, the Queen travelled by train to the village of Plaisance.  Plaisance lived up to its friendly reputation.  There were thousands of people waiting to see the Queen.  But it was going to be a very big day for a little Plaisance girl.  Ann Jennifer Mendonca was nine years old at the time and she was selected by the village elders to present a bouquet of flowers to the Queen.  Dressed in a dainty white frock pretty Ann Mendonca made her way to the Queen, curtsied, and offered the flowers to the smiling Queen.  Ann herself was bashful and smiling as she made three steps backward, curtsied again, then turning from the Queen’s presence,” recalled Singh whose brother had represented Corentyne High School to travel to Georgetown to see Her Royal Highness.