Friend tried to defend couple, accidentally runs over woman twice, killing her

November 9 2026

A 22-year-old woman was killed after a friend, who was trying to defend her and her common-law husband from a group of men, accidentally ran her over twice while attempting to ram the men with a rented vehicle at Nigg Village, Corentyne, Berbice, on Sunday, November 8.

The dead woman has been identified as Manisha Burnette, a market vendor and mother of two who had recently returned from French Guiana.

Her common-law husband, Aaron Seegobin, 28, told BIG Smith News Watch that they were drinking at a Nigg nightspot when a group of male patrons began harassing Burnette.

Seegobin said that when he intervened, the men attacked and assaulted him. Their friend, identified only as ‘Junior’, reportedly witnessed the attack and took a cutlass from the rented vehicle, but was restrained before he could use it.

According to Seegobin, ‘Junior’, 28, then got into the vehicle and attempted to ram it into the men who had allegedly harassed Burnette and assaulted him.

However, in the attempt to defend the couple, the driver accidentally struck Burnette.

Seegobin said he rushed to his partner, who was still breathing, and was holding her when ‘Junior’ again drove over her while attempting to ram the men.

“She was still breathing and I was holding her he rammed her again,” Seegobin told BIG Smith News Watch.

Seegobin said the driver subsequently made another attempt to hit the men but struck both him and Burnette.

Burnette was taken to a Berbice hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Seegobin suffered a broken hip and other injuries.

He said ‘Junior’ had rented the vehicle from a Berbice boat operator.

Police have detained the 28-year-old suspect and impounded the vehicle as the investigation continues.