Almost a month after being doused with a flammable substance and set alight by her husband, Wakenaam resident Sattie Looknauth remains in hospitalised in critical condition.
Police Commander of Region Three, Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean, confirmed to this publication that Looknauth remained in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Burn Care Unit.
Looknauth, 43, a mother of four and a farmer of Friendship, Wakenaam, Essequibo River, has been hospitalised since the attack, which occurred on the afternoon of January 18th. Her husband, Rabindranauth Harrinarine, known as ‘Fineman’, 66, took his own life minutes after he set Looknauth on fire following a domestic dispute.
Stabroek News was told than 60 per cent of the woman’s body suffered burns as results of the attack, with 33 per cent of her upper body suffering third degree burns. Both of her hands are also burnt.
Her brother, Kenny Looknauth, explained that his sister was in a “very abusive relationship” and despite every attempt to remove herself from the situation, she was unable to do so.
At around 5.05 pm on the day in question, Harrinarine was downstairs when he approached Looknauth, who was sitting on the verandah. An argument ensued between the two and Harrinarine left and returned with a bottle filled with a substance suspected to be gasoline.
Harrinarine reportedly doused his wife with the substance and lit her afire using a lighter and immediately fled the scene.
The couple’s 15-year-old daughter, who was at home at the time, responded to her mother’s cry for help and immediately sought assistance. After the fire was put out, the woman was rushed to the hospital.
The police were also summoned to scene and upon their arrival launched a search for Harrinarine. At around 5.20, Mc Bean said, Harrinarine was found dead in a clump of bushes where he had hanged himself.
