[www.inewsguyana.com] – Thirty – three – year – old John Blanchard – the clothes vendor who was accused of chopping his three children to death at their Soedsyke home two years ago – has been committed to stand trial for their murder.
Blanchard was committed on Monday, December 2 after the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) came to an end at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, before Magistrate Leron Daly.
During the PI, a total of 12 witnesses took to the stand to offer evidence against Blanchard including his wife, his mother-in-law and other close relatives.
In her closing statement, Magistrate Daly told Blanchard that the Police Prosecutor has made out a case against him and there is sufficient evidence for him to be committed.
When asked if he had anything to say, Blanchard indicated to the Court that he would reserve his comment for the High Court.
On October 11, 2011, Blanchard was detained for the chopping of his three young children, Joy, Belika and Daniel. Belika and Daniel died almost instantly while Joy succumbed a day later while being treated at the Georgetown Hospital.
The family resided at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, and according to reports at the time of the incident, the children’s mother had left for the interior where she sought a better job.
It is alleged that the chopping incident stemmed from a phone conversation Blanchard allegedly had with the woman moments before.
Blanchard, who sold clothing to sustain his family, had reportedly been experiencing difficulties with his companion.
The two had allegedly spilt up with the woman leaving the children behind. The death of the children had sparked nationwide interest and outrage. Blanchard was attacked twice while in police custody. The man had been beaten severely by fellow inmates who sought to teach the alleged “child murderer” a lesson.
