Autopsies performed on Naco Hale and Alwin Butcher, the couple whose lifeless bodies were discovered in their Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway home on Monday morning have confirmed that they died as a result of multiple stab wounds.
The autopsies were performed yesterday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.
While questions have been raised about the number of stab wounds the couple sustained, this newspaper was told that investigators are looking at the theory that they fatally stabbed each other.
The bloodied bodies of Hale called ‘Malika’, 34, a cook and Alwin Butcher also known as ‘Dudin’, 48, a minibus conductor were discovered in a bedroom of their Lot 522 Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway house, hours after they were involved in a heated argument.
The incident occurred sometime between 10 pm on Monday and 5.30 am Tuesday.
The discovery was made by the couple’s children, who checked on them after neither appeared to be up on Tuesday morning.
A source had told Stabroek News that the police are investigating the deaths as murders. Each body, the source had added, bore more than ten stab wounds.
Hale is said to have sustained a total of ten stabs about her body including to her neck while Butcher body bore 13 stabs.
A pair of scissors was found lying next to Hale’s body, the source added.
Preliminary investigations, the police had said, revealed that about 8 pm on Monday, Hale and Butcher were engaged in a heated argument after which both they and their children retired to bed.
Hours after, they were found dead.
The argument, according to the police, stemmed from a court case in which Butcher was charged with wounding his eldest child. Butcher had allegedly beaten and injured the child, who had failed to complete some chores. The child sustained a gash to his abdomen during the attack.
Butcher was charged and remanded to prison. He was released on bail about a week ago after which he returned to the house. This is despite the fact that the court had issued a restraining order against Butcher, who was ordered to stay away from Hale.
Residents in the area had recalled hearing shouts coming from the house on Monday evening but they didn’t think it unusual since it was customary.
They also said that Hale had enquired from them about apartments to rent since she wanted to move with her children but they were unsure what stopped her.
