An early morning blaze yesterday claimed the lives of three persons at Beterverwagting (BV) and police are working on the theory that a man hacked his wife to death before setting the place afire.
According to reports, around 2:30 am, fire gutted the Lot 1 BV Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara home consuming, Leonard Pollard, 36, the mother of his child, 26-year-old Latoya Telford and their one-year-old daughter Nakasia Pollard.
Police sources say several limbs were found in the remains of the fire separated from what appeared to be the torso of the woman.
This newspaper understands that Leonard resided at the address with his brother who was not at home when the incident occurred.
Telford, who did not live with Pollard, was visiting the premises at the time of the fire with their young child.
Reports say that throughout the course of the fire no screams could be heard coming from the residence.
Leon Pollard, the brother of Leonard, stated that he was at work when he received a call about the fire.
He recalled seeing the fire truck passing him but had no idea that it was going to their home.
According to Leon, when he last spoke with his brother he told him, “Don’t let that girl (Telford) come to this house”, after his brother said to him that Telford wanted to visit the home. The brother said that he sensed something terrible would happen since Leonard had attempted to take his own life last Wednesday,
He recalled that since October 2016, his brother and Telford were having problems, adding that Leonard was also served with a lawyer’s letter and was asked to leave the BV home.
Meanwhile, Telford’s aunt, Sharon Price told Stabroek News that she went to the scene after learning about the fire. By the time she got there the fire had been extinguished and firemen were conducting their investigation. According to the aunt, Telford returned to her mother’s home at Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara last November after issues with Leonard Pollard. However, she left her home on Saturday with the youngest of her three children and went to Pollard’s place.
Price said that the house had been furnished by Telford. She said that on numerous occasions, the family encouraged Telford to break off the relationship with Leonard Pollard.
Price said it is unclear what went wrong on Saturday but the couple who shared a common law relationship for almost a decade had issues. She claimed that Leonard Pollard was insecure and always asked Telford for money since he is unemployed. Price noted that the couple also had quarrels over custody of the children.
“My niece is a go getter she always work to provide for her children…”, Price said.
