NEXT days of nationwide outrage and demonstrations after the body of 22-year-old Andrea Bharatt was found in an abyss on the heights of Aripo, an Arima man appeared in court yesterday charged with murder.
CHARGED: Negus George
Negus George, 24, of Gooding Trace, Malabar, Arima, virtually appeared before Magistrate Cheron Raphael, charged with murdering the clerk sometime between January 29, when she went missing, and February 4, when her body was found.
He was not asked to plead, as the accusation was unlawful.
George’s wife Giselle Hobson, 37, also appeared before the magistrate.
Hobson, who lives at the same address as George, was not charged with Bharatt’s murder, but is charged with receiving stolen items from the clerk – her bank card, clothing and earrings.
Hobson and George are parents of a baby boy.
Taken into custody
Both were denied bail and remanded in custody until March 10, when the cases will be heard again.
KILLED: Andrea Bharatt
The two appeared before Raphael in the Arima Magistrates’ Court, where Bharatt was employed as a clerk and from where she departed on the afternoon of January 29, before boarding what she believed was an “H” taxi to get to her home. in Arima Old Road. just a five minute drive.
She never reached her destination.
Charges against George and Hobson were filed Wednesday night after homicide detectives met with Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, and were given the green light to proceed based on information obtained during the investigation .
Two other suspects who were taken into custody on January 31, Andrew Morris, 35, and Joel Balcon, 37, the lead suspect who also went by the name “Devon Charles”, both died in hospital some time after being arrested by agents of the United States. Special Operations Response Team (SORT).
Autopsies concluded that they had both suffered different injuries.
The investigation into Bharatt’s kidnapping and murder was conducted by ASP Douglas and Insp Hosein of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region 2, while George and Hobson were charged by PC Israel Emmanuel of the Arima Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Bharatt’s funeral is taking place today.
Her body will be taken to the family’s home at 9 a.m. and then to Arima Magistrates’ Court.
Following this, her body will be transported to the Faith Assembly Church, Eastern Main Road, Arouca for the service at 12:00 PM and then to the Belgroves Funeral Home in Tacarigua at 2:00 PM for cremation.
The funeral is expected to be streamed live from the church.