Police are likely to charge three persons today in relation to the murder of cambio dealer, Farouk Razac, and lawyers for his widow, Carolan Lynch, yesterday filed a habeas corpus writ accompanied by an affidavit which said that she did not possess the strength to inflict the fatal wound.
It's been four days now since police have had the beauty queen in custody. Also in custody are the woman's physical trainer and a maid.
The writ which was filed, by attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes will come up before Justice Rishi Persaud today at 9 am and it is asking Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene to show cause why he should not be directed to have Lynch produced in court.
Razac was found dead in his Ireng Place, Bel Air Park home on Monday morning with a wound to his head and marks around his neck. An autopsy revealed that the Managing Director of Swiss House Cambio died of asphyxiation due to possible ligature strangulation. He will be laid to rest today according to Muslim rites.
In an affidavit in support of the writ, Robert Lynch, the beauty queen's brother said that he was told by Hughes that he has been led to believe that Razac's cause of death was strangulation, which resulted from the use of considerable force by the assailant who might have committed the murder. The deponent said he was further told by the attorney that he believes that the force required to inflict the fatal injury on Razac could not have been applied by Lynch as she is not possessed of the requisite strength to inflict the injury which caused the death of her husband.
"I am informed by Nigel Hughes and verily believe that Carolan Lynch has not been questioned by any police officer about the issue of the strangulation of her husband and or informed that she is a suspect in the inquiries into the death of her husband," Robert Lynch said in the affidavit.
Robert Lynch said that there has been great speculation in the local media about the various theories surrounding the death of Razac most of which are without any foundation in science or fact.
The woman's brother pointed out that since her incarceration she has been unable to see her daughter or make any arrangements for the safety of her house or her child. The man said that he has been advised by his lawyer that the continued detention of Lynch is driven by unfavourable media publicity and unscientific speculation and/or lack of investigative capacity of the Guyana Police Force.
He further stated that Hughes informed him that there was no basis in law for the continued detention of Lynch and that she is being wrongfully detained by officers of the police force. Robert Lynch said, too, that the attorney informed him that Lynch's detention is unlawful and a breach of her fundamental constitutional rights as guaranteed by the constitution of Guyana.
Robert Lynch also said in the affidavit that Lynch discovered Razac's body lying on the floor of their bedroom and she immediately called for help and sought assistance in taking her husband to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to Robert Lynch his sister was distraught by the discovery and was in a state of considerable emotional distress. He said that the death was reported to the police who on Monday police contacted Lynch and invited her to the Criminal Investigation Department to provide them with a statement on the circumstances in which she discovered Razac. Robert Lynch said that he was informed by his sister that she was never told that she was a suspect in any criminal investigation. He said he was further informed by Lynch that she provided the police with an extensive statement of the circumstances in which she discovered her husband. On Monday evening Lynch was detained by police officers pending investigations. Robert Lynch said in his affidavit that on Tuesday he retained the services of an attorney on behalf of his sister and was informed by, attorney Hughes that he contacted Inspector Charles at the Alberttown Police Station and inquired about the reason for the arrest and detention of Lynch. Robert Lynch said, Hughes told him that the inspector told him that Lynch was being detained pending inquiries into the death of her husband.
Sources close to the businessman had told this newspaper on Wednesday that Razac had taken out a US$1M insurance policy with an insurance company overseas. This newspaper also understands that Razac had taken home US$400,000 cash, property of Swiss House Cambio, but this money cannot be accounted for so far. Reports are that relatives of the dead man are trying to ascertain who the local agent of the insurance company is as well as to determine where the US currency might be.
According to information, Lynch has told police that she left her house around 8 am Monday to take her child to school. When she returned the physical trainer arrived and she was preparing to go through her exercise routine. She however realized at that point that Razac who normally leaves for work between 6 am and 7 am had not come downstairs. It was then that he was discovered. He would have been taken to the hospital around 8.45 am.
The Police's statement on the matter on Monday said that Lynch discovered the businessman crouched on the floor. Blood was oozing from his mouth and his hands were around his neck. It added that a television set, which is usually at the foot of the bed, was found on the floor. The police said Razac was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The statement added that further examination of his body revealed a small wound on his head and marks around his neck and that a doctor at the GHPC opined that he might have died before arriving at the hospital. The doctor according to sources did indicate to the police that Razac might have died some four hours before arriving at the hospital. This would put his death around 5 am that morning. According to reports the doctor could not put this in his report as he was not a pathologist. Razac was taken to the hospital mortuary and the autopsy was conducted the next day but by this time it would have been difficult for Dr. Nehaul Singh who conducted the post-mortem to determine how long before arrival at the hospital the man might have died because the body had been frozen. Police further stated that Razac's house was guarded and there were no signs of forced entry.
Razac and his wife were recently before the court on illegal gun and ammunition charges.