Derek Achong
A Barrackpore man who killed his estranged common-law wife and their 14-month-old daughter has been sentenced to death.
Rishi Motilal, also known as “Cook Meat”, was convicted on Monday at the end of his judge-alone trial before Justice Nalini Singh.
Motilal was found guilty of murdering 34-year-old Tara Ramsaroop and their daughter, Shermaya Jada Motilal, on October 8, 2024.
The mother and child were found dead at Motilal’s home. Ramsaroop had been chopped multiple times, while the baby’s throat had been slit.
The killings happened weeks after Ramsaroop obtained a protection order against Motilal.
Before his arrest, Motilal contacted relatives and confessed to the murders. He later admitted the killings to police, claiming he became enraged after Ramsaroop told him about a new relationship and said he would no longer have access to their children.
During the trial, Motilal admitted killing both victims but claimed he had been provoked and later “blacked out”.
Justice Singh rejected the defence, ruling Motilal remained in control of his actions throughout the attack.
“I find that he experienced anger, hurt, jealousy, frustration and emotional distress but that he retained the capacity for purposeful and directed action at all material times,” Singh said.
She also rejected any suggestion of provocation in the killing of the child.
“Shermaya Motilal was a 14-month-old child. She said and did nothing provocative,” the judge said.
Motilal had also pleaded guilty to malicious damage after setting fire to a vehicle linked to the mother of Ramsaroop’s new boyfriend. The judge ruled he had already served that sentence while on remand.
Motilal was represented by Stephen Wilson, and Ayanna Norville-Modeste, of the Public Defenders' Department (PDD). Assistant DPP Dylan Martin, Josiah Soo Hon, and Khi Cambridge represented the State.
