GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – A former sergeant with the Guyana Police Force, Colin Bailey, appeared in court here Wednesday to answer to charges for the alleged murder of his common-law wife, Surmattie “Savita’ Ramnaress, almost three years ago.

The police reported that Bailey allegedly murdered Ramnaress between August 30 and 31. Ramnaress’s body was found lying face down in her garage.

An autopsy found that the 46-year-old woman was beaten on the head and other parts of her body, and efforts were made to strangle her. A part of house was burnt.

Bailey was previously questioned about the murder, but was exonerated until a man claimed that he was paid by the former sergeant to kill the woman.

Bailey, who was not required to plea to the indictable charge read to him by the chief magistrate, was remanded until March 15.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that investigators have not completed the case file because someone else named “Grant” was also the subject of a probe for the same killing.

Bailey was not represented by an attorney.

The former cop is also facing charges for alleged corrupt transaction while he was a member of the Guyana Police Force.

This stems from an incident in which he and another policeman were accused of receiving GYD$300,000 on May 7, 2015 from a man over the possession of his licensed firearm.