Cops await DPP's advice on Preysal cesspit murder

Police are awaiting advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether to to charge a 35-year-old Preysal mechanic with the cesspit murder of a Venezuelan woman.

Newsday confirmed that police from the Homicide Bureau (Region III) submitted a file earlier this week.

The funeral of32-year-old Johnna Diaz Sanchez is set for Friday.

Owing to lack of funds, worried relatives expressed fears that they would be unable to give her a proper send-off.

Fr Robert Christo, parish priest of St Dominic's RC in Penal, the church’s Parish Ministry for Migrants and Refugees (PMMR), and Fr Gutemberg Tosca Barahona, a missionary priest from the Diocese of Carúpano, have been arranging a proper funeral.

PMMR’s co-ordinator, Daniel George, member/translator Cristina John and others have also been working with relatives since the horrific news broke.

"The service will be in Spanish by an RC priest followed by cremation," a church official said by phone.

The suspect confessed on Saturday afternoon to dumping Sanchez in a cesspit at his home at Santa Clara Road, where police found her body.

The autopsy results on Monday at the Forensic Sciences Complex found the cause of death was inconclusive.

Relatives had reported her missing a few days before, saying she was a victim of domestic abuse. They believed the suspect,with whom she had an on-and-off relationship, had kidnapped her.

On Friday, the police arrested him at the house for questioning about her disappearance.

Sanchez lived at Princes Town with her 14-year-old daughter, who is now staying with a relative at La Romaine.

WPC Knights from the Homicide Bureau Region III is leading investigations.