Former cop charged with murder of wife

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2016, 16:13 by Denis Chabrol

Former Guyana Police Force Sergeant Colin Bailey was Wednesday arraigned for the alleged murder of his common-law wife, Surmattie “Savita’ Ramnaress almost three years ago.

Police said Bailey of 63 Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara murdered the woman between August 30 and 31, 2013 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

He was not required to plea to the indictable charge that was read to him by Chief Magistrate, Ann Mc Lennan. He was remanded to prison until March 15, 2015.

Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers told the court that investigators have not completed the case file because someone else named “Grant” was also the subject of a probe for the same killing.

Bailey was not represented by an attorney.

Bailey, who was brought to court shackled and handcuffed, is also before the court for an alleged corrupt transaction while he was a member of the Guyana Police Force. He and another policeman have been accused of receiving GYD$300,000 on May 7, 2015 from Kissoondat Premsook over the possession of his licensed firearm.

Ramnaress was found lying face down in her garage. An autopsy found that the 46-year old woman was beaten to her head and other parts of her body and efforts were made to strangle her. A part of house was burnt.

Bailey was previously questioned about the murder, but he was exonerated until a man claimed that he was paid by the former sergeant to kill the woman.