Man jailed in Suriname after being convicted of raping and killing elderly woman

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – A judge in Suriname has sentenced a man to 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of raping and murdering a 67-year-old woman in 2022.

Justice Maureen Dayala imposed the sentence on the convicted rapist and murderer identified as “DK” after the court heard that his DNA was found on the victim.

The court heard that on April 25, 2022, a half-naked body of a woman was discovered in a grove along a private road in Sophia's Lust.

“The judge has declared proven that there is qualified manslaughter. The suspect allegedly raped and strangled the victim to death. The judge has imposed a sentence of 30 years for this,” said Justice Ingrid Lachitjaran, who created history by becoming the first so called “press judge” to speak to journalists after a verdict had been given.

The court also heard statements from a son of the victim and another witness.

“A vaginal swap was taken from the victim. The mucus showed that DNA from the suspect was indeed found. Dirt under the victim's nails was also examined, and DNA material from the suspect was also found there. It also turned out that there were old scratch wounds on the suspect's shoulders. The judge also included this as evidence. As well as the autopsy report, which shows that the victim was killed by suffocation,” Lachitjaran told reporters.

The convicted man maintains that he is innocent.

“He has also been informed that he may appeal against the verdict within 14 days of the verdict. That is the legal remedy that he can still use,” Lachitjaran added.

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