Murdered cash crop farmer… Tests reveal gunpowder on husband’s hands

Murdered: Pamela Kendall

 

Police have revealed that tests conducted on the hands of the husband of slain cash crop farmer Pamela Kendall confirmed traces of gunpowder.

With this discovery, the man, Deochand Sookchand, is now the prime suspect in the woman’s murder.

It also rules out robbery as a motive for the killing.

Senior police officials explained that in keeping with standard operating procedure the man’s hands were swabbed for traces of gunpowder soon after investigations into the matter commenced last Thursday night, since detectives had not immediately ruled out Sookchand as a suspect.

Kendall, a cash crop farmer, was reportedly shot shortly after she entered the back door of the family’s home, located near the Number 45 Village Public Road. She managed to run from her home, only to collapse in her brother’s yard, located a few houses away.

Although initial reports suggested that the 56-year old Kendall was shot by bandits, Police appeared to have been suspicious from the outset about the circumstances surrounding the ‘home invasion,’ which occurred during a power outage, at around 18.00 hrs last Thursday. This was after they unearthed evidence that Kendall may not have been the victim of a robbery attempt.

The woman’s husband had said that he was having a bath downstairs and his wife was about to close the back door when he heard a single gunshot, and his wife’s screams.

According to Sookchand, he began to scream to alert the neighbours, while one of the alleged bandits armed with a gun ran upstairs. Within minutes the intruder returned downstairs and he, along with an accomplice, fled into the backlands.

In a later interview, Sookchand said he was in the bathroom and had just told his wife to close the back door, when he heard her scream. This was followed by a gunshot. He said that he hid in the bathroom and the intruder peered inside, but did not enter. He reportedly heard the man whispering to someone, and this led him to believe the killer had an accomplice.

Sookchand said that he later ran outside to assist his wife, but she had managed to run to her brother’s residence, approximately 100 yards away.

Deochand Sookchand

 

She was later pronounced dead at the Skeldon Public Hospital.
Sookchand suggested that the killer left without taking anything, after failing to find anyone in the premises that he could have forced to hand over anything of value.

He also suggested that the power outage may have deterred the gunman from searching the house. A spent shell and a bullet were reportedly found in the kitchen.

Police became even more suspicious when a relative related that a ‘mystery telephone call’ was made to the victim’s home shortly after the murder to throw them off track. The caller had reportedly said “don’t call my name in anything,” before hanging up.

The relative told investigators that the voice sounded very familiar and suggested who it was.

Investigators have obtained phone records of calls made around that time, but officials declined to say whether they have been able to trace the call.

The dead woman’s husband was officially taken into custody on Tuesday and brought to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department where he was interrogated by members of the Force’s Serious Crime Investigations Unit.

The new twist is sure to create some uneasiness among residents of the Corentyne as well as some politicians, who tried to create mileage out of the incident.

Last week, several Number 45 Village, Corentyne, Berbice residents blocked the main roadway for about an hour to vent their outrage their outrage over Kendall’s murder and the recent spate of violent robberies in their community.

At least two prominent politicians had journeyed to the Corentyne to meet with the residents. Police sources say that a file on the matter is being prepared and the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions will be sought.