A 37-year-old mother of two was stabbed to death sometime between Tuesday night and yesterday morning at Recht-Door-Zee, West Bank Demerara (WBD), by her husband, who subsequently hung himself.
Dead are Mariya Camele Robertson-Rodrigues and Rolin Rodrigues, 42.
Police confirmed the incident which took place between 6pm Tuesday and 9am yesterday at one of Robertson-Rodrigues’ friend’s house.
The suspected murder weapon was found on a chest of drawers in the said room.
Reports are that the couple had been married for about eight years. They were the caretakers of the property which is owned by Robertson-Rodrigues’ friend. The friend is presently in the interior where she works.
According to a police report, information suggested that Robertson-Rodrigues went against her husband’s wish and visited the friend in the interior a few days ago. At the time, Rodrigues was in Suriname, where he was working. Upon learning that Robertson had left home, he returned to Guyana the said night. Robertson-Rodrigues returned home on Tuesday and met Rodrigues consuming alcohol.
At the scene yesterday, residents of the community and family members who had gathered expressed shock at the deaths. They said Rodrigues always appeared to be a quiet person and never did they imagine he would have committed such an act.
Olga Robert, the dead woman’s sister told Stabroek News that a few days ago, Robertson-Rodrigues related to her that she would be going to the interior for her friend’s husband’s birthday party.
“Four days ago she went. She told me is the girl husband birthday and she friend send out for she fah she come and cook up and so,” Robert said.
She said her sister did inform Rodrigues before she left for the interior. “She call she husband she tell he she going in the bush….and he she alright and thing,” Robert added.
According to Robert, hours after Robertson-Rodrigues left for the interior, Rodrigues returned home from Suriname. “He flew in the night….The morning she leave, he come in the afternoon. When he come in, mommy call me and tell me Rolin come in,” Robert related.
Robert said she telephoned her sister afterwards and informed her of the development and she indicated that she was aware.
Relatives said the couple had an argument on Tuesday night and later reconciled.
Another of Robertson-Rodrigues’ sisters, Kamisa Hytmiah said on Tuesday night, Robertson-Rodrigues and her husband ventured to the friend’s house which is a short distance from their place.
Normally, Robert said the children would join the couple but on Tuesday night, Rodrigues insisted that they don’t. “I ask the son why he didn’t go over with them. He seh he (Rodrigues) seh he ain’t want nobody come. Just he and he wife alone,” she noted.
`He controls her’
Family members said Rodrigues was “jealous” and “overprotective” of Robertson-Rodrigues.
They said while the couple did not have a history of domestic abuse, they would argue from time to time.
“That’s the thing. No domestic issues. Yea he probably hit her twice but not no domestic issues…..Just that he is very jealous person. He’s a very jealous person and he very overprotective of her. He controls her,” Hytmiah said.
Rodrigues worked in Suriname from time to time. When he was in Guyana, he worked on a fishing trawler. Robert said he was scheduled to return to sea yesterday.
The couple had no children together. Robertson-Rodrigues’ two children are from a previous relationship.
