Thirteen-year-old Julie Sooklall's father and one of her uncles are among five persons held yesterday in connection with the girl's murder at Wakenaam.

Julie's body was found early Tuesday morning after her father had reported her missing. Her throat had been slit and it is suspected that she may have also been raped. The girl was on her way to school when she was killed.

Schoolgirl's windpipe was severed

Pix - Stabroek News

According to reports, three youths who are cousins, are also in custody.

Up to press time, no one had been released and the police are expected to question more persons.

A post mortem is expected to be conducted tomorrow.

Meanwhile, several parents whose children have to travel through lonely areas to attend the Essequibo Islands Secondary School have withdrawn their daughters from the institution. One parent from Ridge Village told this newspaper that it is better for her daughter to live without an education rather than to die young trying to obtain it.

A few female students have vowed not to attend school until the rapist/killer is apprehended.

Julie celebrated her 13th birthday just the day before she was murdered.

Prior to this incident, the last murder on the quiet Essequibo island was about three years ago when Millicent Sewbutchan known as Aunty Millie, a 75-year-old businesswoman was raped and then strangled. The woman was living alone.

Twenty-year-old Kenneth Richardson was charged for that murder. Richardson managed to escape his trial when he was granted bail for another offence of break and enter which he had committed on another business place. Richardson, who had petitioned the court to be tried before Mark Benschop, disappeared and has not yet been found.

Thursday, November, 25, 2004