Double murder Fond-du-Sac: Supreme Court denies bail to Ritesh Baboolall

Sentenced on August 1, 2025 to thirty-eight years in prison for the murder of Anand Goorbin and his son, Vijay Anand Goorbin, committed on January 2, 2018 in Fond-du-Sac, Ritesh Kumar Baboolall, a 37-year-old mason, remains in detention. On March 23, 2026, the Supreme Court rejected his request for bail pending his appeal to be heard on the merits on July 29, 2026.

Ritesh Kumar Baboolall is answering two charges of “manslaughter” before the Assize Court in relation to the deaths of Anand Goorbin, 62, and his son, Vijay Anand Goorbin, 37. He pleaded not guilty and appeared before a jury at his trial. On January 2, 2018, the Goorbin family was celebrating the New Year in the backyard of their home when tensions erupted with their neighbors, the Baboolalls. Umesh Kumar Baboolall drove his van several times in the street, causing a lot of noise and emitting smoke. This caused discontent among members of the Goorbin family.

Following a verbal altercation between the two families, Umesh Kumar Baboolall, 27, returned accompanied by his brother, Ritesh Kumar Baboolall. Both were armed with sticks. A fight then broke out before Umesh Kumar Baboolall fled, pursued by two members of the Goorbin family.

While father and son were returning home after this incident, Ritesh Kumar Baboolall arrived driving his van at high speed. He deliberately hit them, crushing them against a wall, before leaving the scene without providing assistance. The son died of his injuries on January 3, 2018, while his father died two days later from his injuries.

Ritesh Kumar Baboolall was arrested by the police on January 3, 2018. He was released on bail on November 18, 2019 at the Bail and Remand Court (BRC). On August 1, 2025, he was found guilty, by a majority of seven jurors to two, of the two charges of “manslaughter”. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison on each charge. He will serve the sentences concurrently. Following his conviction, he appealed on nineteen grounds.

In the same trial, Umesh Kumar Baboolall was prosecuted for complicity. On July 30, 2025, he was acquitted after a “no case to answer” motion was presented by his lawyer, Mr. Anil Gayan, Senior Counsel. At the end of this procedure, the charges against him were dropped.  As for Ritesh Kumar Baboolall, after his conviction, he was placed in detention. He applied for bail pending his appeal.

His lawyers, Me Anil Gayan, Senior Counsel, and Me Robin Ramburn, Senior Counsel, relied on the Bernard Maigrot case. The latter had been sentenced to fifteen years in prison for the murder of Vanessa Lagesse and had obtained bail pending his appeal before being final