Murder of Pandit & son: Accused freed after Judge upholds no-case submission

Thirty-four-year-old Earlando Douglas, who had been charged with the 2018 murders of a pandit and his son was recently acquitted of the crime after the jury was directed to return a formal not-guilty verdict in his favour.

Before High Court Judge Jo Ann Barlow, Douglas had been on trial for the murders of Deonarine Liliah, popularly known as ‘Dewan,’ and his son, businessman Gopaul Liliah, called ‘Omkar,’ 28, both of Lot 23 Craig Street, South Half Section ‘G’, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Douglas’ lawyers made a no-case submission which was upheld by the trial Judge, who then directed the jury to acquit the accused.

As such, Justice Balow informed Douglas of Campbellville, Georgetown that he was discharged and free to go. Douglas is also known as “Frass” and “Lando”. His trial was conducted at the Demerara High Court.

According to reports, the partially decomposed bodies of the 61-year-old pandit and his 28-year-old son were discovered with multiple stab wounds in their Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown home on the morning of Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

The house was ransacked. Their bodies were discovered after one of their tenants reported that a strong stench had been emanating from the upper flat of the house. As such, the tenant went to the Kitty Police Station where she made a report.

When Police ranks arrived at the scene, they found that the backdoor of the men’s home was ajar. Deonarine’s body was found with six stab wounds lying in the living room, while his son was found lying face down in a pool of blood with a jersey wrapped around his neck.

His body bore five stab wounds. Reports indicate that the Deonarines were last seen alive on Saturday, July 07, 2018.

It is believed that they were killed during a robbery. A government pathologist gave their cause of death as multiple stab wounds.