A couple from Arima has been remanded into custody after appearing in court in connection with Andrea Bharatt’s murder.
Negus George, 24, of Gooding Trace, Malabar, Arima, and his 37-year-old common-law wife Giselle Hobson were denied bail when they appeared virtually before Magistrate Cheron Raphael, yesterday.
George was charged with Bharatt’s murder, while Hobson was only charged with receiving items alleged stolen from Bharatt including a cellphone, ATM card, earrings, and an article of clothing.
According to reports, Bharatt, 23, a clerk at the Arima Magistrates’ Court, of Arima Old Road in D’Abadie, was last seen boarding a taxi in Arima on January 29.
Her decomposing body was found down a precipice in the Heights of Aripo on February 4.
As an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre in St James was inconclusive, businessman Inshan Ishmael and two of his friends assisted the family in obtaining a private autopsy.
Giselle Hobson, 37, was charged with receiving stolen goods, in connection with the Andrea Bharatt case. PICTURE TTPS
The second autopsy, performed by Professor Hubert Daisley, revealed that she died from massive internal haemorrhaging after she was struck on the head with a blunt object that caused her to fall back and crack her skull.
Several people were detained by police even before Bharatt’s body was found by a scrap iron dealer.
Two of them, later identified as Andrew Morris and Joel Balcon, died while in police custody.
Autopsies performed on the duo’s bodies revealed that they were beaten to death. The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has launched an investigation into their deaths.
George and Hobson, who were unrepresented at the hearing, are expected to reappear in court on March 10.
Bharatt’s funeral takes place today.
