Hannah Mathura’s parents appear in court for her murder
Senior Reporter
derek.achong@guardian.co.tt
Police have admitted that there is little to no direct evidence linking Andrew and Alana Mathura to the alleged murder of their teenage daughter Hannah.
Police prosecutor Inspector Ashley Mongroo made the revelation during the couple’s first court appearance before High Court Master Sarah De Silva, yesterday morning.
Mongroo claimed that homicide detectives were relying on the evidence of 26 witnesses, post-mortem and DNA analysis reports, and fabric including a sheet that her remains were allegedly found wrapped in.
He claimed that they were also relying on two statements from Alana and one from Andrew that were recorded while they were being interrogated by detectives.
“It (the case) is based on utterances made by the accused and other witnesses. It is mostly circumstantial evidence,” Mongroo said.
Andrew, 66, and Alana, 63, both of Butu Road, Valsayn, are accused of murdering their 18-year-old daughter on an unknown date between July 8, 2017, when she was last seen alive, and March 13, this year, a day after her skeletal remains were unearthed in the backyard of the family’s home.
The couple, who made their virtual court appearance from a holding cell at the Tunapuna Police Station, was not called upon to plead to the charge.
Sitting next to each other, Alana was stoic while her husband appeared more animated as he got up to inform Master De Silva that he was not hearing her via video conferencing. He even briefly smirked while addressing the court.
While Master De Silva remanded the couple, she advised them of their right to apply to a judge for bail.
“Bail for this offence is only granted in exceptional circumstances,” De Silva said.
She also noted that if their lawyers file the bail application this week, it could be heard by a judge, next Friday.
During the hearing, Master De Silva set dates for prosecutors and defence attorneys to do their filings in the matter.
She is expected to preside over the duo’s sufficiency hearing on April 1, 2026.
Police found the skeletal remains when they excavated the yard at the family’s home after reportedly receiving a tip-off from a relative in March. The couple was questioned by police but was released pending further investigations. They were rearrested and charged on Wednesday after investigators consulted with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Hannah’s father was represented by Tahirah Gibson-Sobers, while Steffon Boodooram represented the mother.
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