Georgetown: A businessman is in police custody after he led investigators to the shallow grave of his ex-wife located adjacent to his home on Tuesday.
Dead is 37 year old Zaila Sugrim. The mother of five went missing on Sunday evening after her ex-husband collected her from a relative’s home where she had gone to spend time with her youngest child.
After cell calls to her mobile phone went unanswered, relatives raised their speculations with police and he ex-husband, Ryan Sugrim who operates a Service Station at Crane Village, West Coast Demerara was arrested.
The couple parted ways recently after the woman lived an abusive relationship for 15 years.
Based on reports received, checks were made at several of the man’s properties between Monday and Tuesday morning but there were no signs of the woman or her body.
However, after intense interrogation, the man confessed to murdering the mother of his five children and burying her body at the side of his property.
In December, 2018, Zaila Sugrim of Lot 569 Section A Block Y Grove/Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara made a report that her reputed husband, Ryan Sugrim, attempted to kill her.
Zaila with bruised lips and bloodshot eyes recalled her memories and recounted her near death experience.
According to Sugrim she separated from her reputed husband
last August because of his abusive behaviours. She stated that she left two of
the children in his care and took the others with her, seeking refuge at a
women’s shelter.
Through constant contact with her children left in the care of their father,
Sugrim was begged to return as they felt he would have changed his ways and he
of himself would have indicated remorse for his actions.
For the sake of her children, Sugrim admitted that she on several occasions had
meetings with her husband to see for herself if he had indeed changed. However
last Friday the events took a grim turn.
Zaila stated that on the day in question she left in a car with her reputed
husband and her young child to go to Palmer Street, La Grange, to a home owned
by her reputed husband. Upon arrival, Ryan received a phone call from which
Zaila heard a woman enquiring about him promising to meet with her.
The victim said that a heated argument began and she attempted to leave the
vehicle from the passenger seat. Ryan grabbed her by the neck and pulled her
back into the vehicle and pushed the child to the back seat.
“After he pulled me
back into the car he drove through the dam then came out and attempted to push
me in the back seat. I tried to fight back and he started to kick and punch
me.”
“As he hit me is so the blood spilling all over. I tried screaming for help and
people come out but no one came to my rescue.”
Finally Ryan was able to get her into the vehicle and locked the doors however
with the little strength she had she tried to kick open the car window to
escape. This caused her reputed husband to return and beat her again before
taping her arms, legs and mouth with duct tape.
“In and out of consciousness I felt us moving for a short while. When we got to
wherever it was he came in the back seat and he twisted my neck as far back as
possible while choking me.”
In tears Zaila stated that, “He said I will kill you and leave you in a shallow
grave. All I remember after then is putting up my one finger pleading for at
least one second to breathe. He released me and I fell to the ground.”
“When I came to myself I struggled to ask him if he will finish what he
started. He responded by saying that he couldn’t.” Sugrim stated that she
pleaded for him to take her to the hospital so she can get medical attention.
Ryan was reluctant to comply as he stated if he does that he will have to kill
himself. Sugrim stated that she cooked up an alibi with her reputed husband
indicating that she was robbed just to be able to be taken to the hospital.
After Ryan left her at the hospital under the pretence that she was robbed,
Zaila later confided in her brother as to what transpired.
A report was made and Ryan was arrested however he was later released on bail.
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