An Annandale septuagenarian, who was allegedly burnt by her son on Christmas Day, yesterday succumbed to her injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Dead is Mengree Dahri called ‘Gladys’, 73, of Lot 143 Gale Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara. Her 43-year-old son, who lived with her, is in police custody and has admitted to committing the crime, police say.
The woman, police indicated, was resting on her bed when her son ignited the mattress sometime after 10 a.m. on Monday. According to the police, a resident observed smoke emanating from the bottom flat of the two-storey house and went over to the house to check. Upon checking, the neighbour discovered Dahri on a bed which was engulfed in flames, police said.
The neighbour summoned help and with the assistance of public-spirited persons, Dahri was evacuated and the fire extinguished, the police added.
When Stabroek News visited the area yesterday neighbours were tight-lipped on the events that transpired. However, one resident explained that she saw the smoke from the bottom flat of the home and neigbours rushed over and offered assistance. The woman said she did not go over to the house after she saw residents had congregated.
She explained that the son, who lives at the house with his mother and another sister who is mentally challenged, would constantly abuse his mother for money to purchase alcohol. The neighbour was quick to point out that she does not know why the son would set his mother’s bed aflame.
A relative indicated that the son had chopped his mother three months ago for money to purchase alcohol. “Every time the lady draw she pension he always fighting her fuh the money…” said the relative.
Stabroek News understands that the woman was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state and did not regain consciousness up to the time of her death.
A post-mortem is expected to be done today.
