The daughter and son-in-law of Rookmin Jameer, the West Coast Berbice pensioner found at home with her throat slit on Friday evening, have been arrested.
‘B’ Division Commander Paul Langevine yesterday confirmed the arrests, which were made on Friday evening after the discovery of the body Jameer, also known as ‘Jocelyn,’ 71, in her Tempe Village, West Coast Berbice home.
Langevine would not comment on the reasons for their arrests, while noting that the investigation is still ongoing. Up to yesterday, police were dusting the premises for fingerprints.
The pensioner’s son, Shaheed Jameer, 31, of Britannia Village, West Coast Berbice, told Sunday Stabroek that his mother, whom he described as a “cool woman,” had been living with his sister for many years. He added that his sister’s husband recently returned to Guyana from overseas.
According to the son, around 8 pm on Friday his sister informed the family that she found her mother with her throat slit in the kitchen in the bottom flat of the house after returning home from church.
However, he added that although his sister has said that she was away at church on Saturday afternoon, his mother’s close neighbours are saying that she and her husband were “cooking and drinking” on Saturday afternoon.
The man also noted that his mother had called his house in the preceding days seeking to arrange a meeting with him due to an issue with his sister. His wife, who had answered the calls, advised the woman to make a report to the police based on the nature of her complaint but she indicated that she was afraid to do so. “Me does work. Me does leave to go to work at 6.30 and come back 8 in the night. Me na get time to go yet ’cause them a live a Tempe and me a live a Britannia,” the emotional son explained.
Meanwhile, residents of the area yesterday claimed that the elderly woman was frequently abused.
A post-mortem examination is due to be conducted this week on Rookmin Jameer’s body, which is presently being stored at Anthony’s Funeral Parlour.
