HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – The father of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran has been remanded to prison on a murder charge, but the investigation is far from over, with police telling the court that they are continuing to probe the alleged involvement of another suspect.
Forty-five-year-old cane harvester Bharrat Jaikarran appeared before Magistrate Shareefah Parks at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where the murder charge was read to him.
It is alleged that he murdered his six-year-old son on October 15 at Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards told the court that the case file had been completed and legal advice obtained. However, investigators are continuing their inquiries into the alleged involvement of another person.
Jaikarran was remanded to prison until November 12, with the matter transferred to the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.
His mother, Gowkarran, was among relatives present for Friday’s proceedings and reportedly broke down in tears inside the courtroom.
Police have also provided further details about the investigation and the accounts allegedly given by Jaikarran following his arrest.
According to investigators, Orlando was last seen alive on the night of October 14, when he reportedly went to sleep alongside his two brothers.
By approximately 5:00 the following morning, one of the boys reportedly discovered Orlando missing and the back door open.
A search was launched, and Jaikarran later reported his son missing at the Fort Wellington Police Station.
He was subsequently arrested on October 19.
Police allege that during a video-recorded interview, Jaikarran initially admitted to throwing Orlando into the Waterloo Main Canal after being told by a religious figure that the six-year-old was not his biological son.
However, investigators say another account later emerged.
Police allege that in a subsequent caution statement, Jaikarran claimed that a religious figure identified as Pujari Srikshun instructed him to take Orlando to the canal and lay the child down, after which the religious figure allegedly inflicted the fatal violence.
