Two Men Face Murder Trial for Killing Lone Resident During Burglary in Old Dhaka
Photo Collected
A brutal burglary turned into a homicide in Old Dhaka’s Sutrapur area on September 10, 2024, resulting in the death of 40-year-old Lipika Juliana Gomez. The victim, an office assistant at Notre Dame College, was killed in her fourth-floor apartment by two intruders who broke in through a ventilator.
The suspects, identified as Jewel Rana, 21, and Nazrul, 22, were arrested 12 days after the incident. According to the investigation report filed by Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Inspector Mominul Islam, the suspects had targeted the apartment specifically because they knew Gomez lived alone.
Jewel, whose father worked as a caretaker in the adjacent building, had assisted Gomez with a move between apartments in the past, during which he learned of her living situation. He subsequently recruited his longtime associate, Nazrul, to carry out the theft. After scouting the location on September 9, the duo executed their plan at approximately 3:00 a.m. the following morning. Nazrul entered the apartment from the roof using a rope, broke the ventilator, and opened the main door for Jewel.
The situation escalated when Gomez awoke and began to scream. Investigators report that Nazrul struck the victim in the head with an iron pipe, leaving her unconscious and bleeding. Jewel then reportedly smothered the victim with a pillow to silence her. The assailants fled the scene after stealing two mobile phones, a handbag containing 26,350 taka, and several pieces of jewelry, locking the apartment door from the outside as they exited.
The discovery of the crime occurred the following morning after Gomez failed to report to work. Colleagues visited her home to check on her, and upon finding the door locked, they utilized a spare key held by the building’s former caretaker. Inside, they discovered Gomez deceased on her bed, her head covered by a pillow, and a broken ventilator window.
PBI officials tracked the suspects using information retrieved from the stolen mobile phones, which had been sold to two individuals in the Sadarghat area for 3,500 taka. Upon their arrest, authorities recovered a pair of pliers, two screwdrivers, and other items belonging to the victim. Forensic examination later revealed that the “jewelry” stolen by the men consisted of imitation pieces rather than gold.
The case, initiated by a murder complaint filed by the victim’s cousin, Prince Gomez, is currently in the testimony phase at the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court. Both defendants have provided formal confessions to the court, detailing their roles in the break-in and the subsequent homicide. According to court records, 21 witnesses have provided testimony thus far as the trial progresses.
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