Just days after the victim of a fatal stab wound, Latoya Haywood, was laid to rest, two persons were arrested by police after they broke into her tomb minutes after 1 am yesterday at the Le Repentir Cemetery where she was buried on Sunday.
Police Commander, Edgar Thomas, stated that the two persons who were arrested were part of a company of four who were involved in the act while the two others managed to escape.
Cousin of the murdered woman, Tenisha Favorite, related to this newspaper that a resident of Princes Street woke up in the middle of the night and upon noticing persons with lights at the burial ground across from her home, called 911.
The call triggered a report being made to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost that resulted in police officers hurrying to the scene where the persons were caught red-handed in the act but only managing to apprehend two of the alleged perpetrators. They had only gotten as far as breaking the tomb and the police commander reassured that the casket was still intact.
Favorite noted that Haywood was not buried with valuables. She said that the only reason she could think persons would want to do such a thing is because they may be involved in ‘obeah’ and part of the ritual included carrying out such an act.
Minutes prior to the fatal attack, Haywood, her relatives and friends had partied into Christmas morning at Breda Street, near her Leopold and Cross streets, Werk-en-Rust home. Haywood was said to have approached the suspect’s boyfriend to purchase a drink for her, which angered the other woman. Favorite, who had just moments before returned to her home nearby, said she returned to the party after another cousin informed her that there was a dispute at the party and her name was mentioned. Favorite said she had gone to see why her name was called but her presence only provoked the already infuriated suspect more.
Favorite said the suspect was already angry with her since she is in contact with the woman’s boyfriend about their son.
Witnesses said the suspect whipped out a knife and tried to stab to Favorite while her boyfriend tried to drive them away from the location and she instead allegedly stabbed Haywood, who was standing nearby.
Haywood was stabbed in the region of her heart. She was rushed to the GPH, where she slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness. A CT scan revealed that she was brain dead. The doctors, Favorite said, explained that the lack of oxygenated blood to the brain was the reason the woman remained in a coma. She succumbed to her injuries almost a month later. Prior to her death Haywood underwent two surgeries.
The suspects who have damaged the tomb are still in police custody assisting with investigations while the police are asking that anyone who could provide any information on the whereabouts of the other two suspects to contact their nearest police station.
