Ex-cop accused of killing reputed wife walks free

(From left to right: Freed: Former Police Sergeant Colin Bailey; Confessed killer: Colin Grant; and Murdered: Sirmattie Ramnaress)

Colin Bailey, the former Police Sergeant who was charged with the August 2013 murder of his reputed wife and businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress was freed on Wednesday by a 12-member jury.

When the trial continued on Wednesday, State Prosecutor Sarah Martin, was in the process of calling her final three witnesses, when Justice Jo Ann Barlow inquired whether these witnesses were bringing any evidence against Bailey.

With the prosecutor conceding that there was no such evidence, Bailey’s lawyer Nigel Hughes told the court that there was no case against his client. Having agreed with counsel’s position, the Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

According to Justice Barlow, based on the committal records, Bailey should not have been charged with the woman’s murder.  “No charge should be instituted when there is no evidence,” Justice Barlow underscored. To this end, she urged the prosecution to “examine committal records carefully” before presenting indictments.

“Fulfill the constitutional mandate that dictates that no one should be before the court unless there is some lawful reason for that person to be there. This is not too much to ask. Every civilized society must have a system that ensures its citizens that measure of security,” the High Court Judge told the prosecutor.

Justice Barlow told Prosecutor Martin that she hopes she will convey, to her superiors, the court’s dissatisfaction in having to waste judicial time to preside over a matter that should not have been in the court from the outset.

Bailey and Colin Grant were jointly charged with Ramnaress’ murder. On Tuesday, Grant appeared before Justice Barlow and pleaded not guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

He admitted that between August 30, and 31, 2013, in Demerara,  he unlawfully killed Ramnaress called ‘Kavita’. Grant will be sentenced on November 2. His lawyer is Dexter Todd.

Bailey and Ramnaress shared a long-term relationship. Reports are that 36-year-old Ramnaress was found dead in the garage of her multi-million dollar Diamond, East Bank Demerara home on the morning of August 31, 2013.

Firefighters were summoned to put out a blaze that was set in the garage. The woman lived alone and had stab wounds and other injuries to her head and other parts of her body.