A 28-year-old mother of five was beaten to death on Friday allegedly by her partner of six years.
Dead is Arlene Persaud called `Nanny’, of Port Kaituma, Region One.
Persaud bled to death at her home where she resided with her five children, who are between the ages of two months and nine years. The suspect, who has been identified as Gregory Hercules has since gone into hiding.
According to reports reaching Stabroek News, around 11:00 PM on Friday, Hercules, who works at Eight Miles Backdam, Port Kaituma as a miner was informed by one of his relatives that Persaud was in a relationship with another male while he was away from home.
As a result, he immediately left for home where he saw Persaud consuming alcohol with neighbours while the children were alone at home. In a fit of rage, he armed himself with a cutlass and piece of wood and allegedly dealt her several blows about her body including to the head. She fell unconscious and was dragged from the neighbour’s house to her home where she eventually succumbed.
Relatives denied that Persaud was having another relationship.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, Arlene Boyce, a cousin of Persaud said she was informed of the tragic news after one of Persaud’s sons visited their home and informed them. She said although she was not present at the time of the incident, based on information she received, Persaud was consuming alcohol, something which is not usual for her. She also added that apart from Friday’s incident she recently learnt that Persaud was in an abusive relationship with her partner. Her killing has sent shock waves throughout the family circle and community and raised concerns as to why neighbours did not intervene at the time of the incident or even assist in taking Persaud to the hospital after the suspect fled the scene.
According to Boyce, it was the dead woman’s seven-year-old son who saw his mother bleeding and rushed to inform the neighbours who encouraged him to visit the police station. Boyce said, the child did as was instructed on foot. However, before he could return with the police officers she had already died. Persaud was found lying on her bed lifeless. Her children are currently in the care of various family members.
The police have launched a murder investigation into the matter and a search is on for Hercules.
Her body is currently at the Port Kaituma mortuary and a post- mortem examination performed yesterday revealed that she died as a result of multiple injuries.
(Sharda Bacchus)
