Housewife found dead in suspected murder; partner hospitalised

Police are investigating the alleged murder of 50-year-old housewife Bibi Salima Persaud, who was found dead with multiple injuries at her home at Lot 193 Ivan Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, late Friday night.

The prime suspect is her common-law partner, 38-year-old mechanic Dinesh Ram, also known as “Paul”, who was discovered unresponsive in the yard and is currently hospitalised under police guard.

According to police, the woman’s body was discovered by her son, Sankar Persaud, at around 23:00 hrs on Friday. He and his brother had just returned home and, upon entering the yard, heard the suspect groaning in apparent pain. Ram was found lying in a pool of water formed by heavy rainfall.

After receiving no response to calls for his mother, Persaud entered the house and discovered her lying motionless on the floor with a wound to her throat. Police were immediately contacted.

Ranks who arrived at the scene observed the suspect lying in the yard with a green substance around his mouth, suspected to be pesticide poison. He was promptly escorted to the Diamond Regional Hospital, where he was admitted.

The victim was found face-up with visible wounds to her forehead, mouth, neck, left wrist, right hand, and face. A kitchen knife covered in a reddish substance suspected to be blood was recovered from the floor. A bottle believed to contain pesticide poison was also found near the door.

Sankar Persaud told investigators that the couple frequently argued, with the suspect accusing his mother of being involved with another man due to her frequent use of her mobile phone. However, they would usually reconcile after disputes. He resides in a separate concrete structure east of the victim’s home, a one-storey wooden building on stilts approximately three feet off the ground.

Statements are being collected, and investigations are ongoing.