(Trinidad Guardian) A nine-year-old boy is currently receiving counselling from the Children’s Authority of T&T after witnessing his elderly father being choked by a man at their home, shortly before his father died.
Dharamraj Basdeo, 62, eventually succumbed at the San Fernando General Hospital around 8 am yesterday.
His death is now being investigated by police as a suspected homicide.
A length of PVC pipe believed to have been used during the incident has also been seized by the police.
The suspect, who lives close by, is currently in police custody.
Investigators said Basdeo was selling burgers on Thursday night when his common-law wife, Sarika Rampersad, got into an argument with a neighbour. She accused the neighbour of using her Wi-Fi connection without her permission.
Yesterday morning around 6.30 am, the quarrel escalated, but this time it was between Basdeo and the suspect. It is alleged that during the argument, the suspect choked Basdeo with a piece of PVC.
When Sarika ran inside, she saw Basdeo sitting on a chair breathing heavily with froth coming out of his mouth. She rushed him to the San Fernando General Hospital, where he later died.
When Guardian Media visited the family at their Retrench Village home yesterday, Michael Rampersad, Sarika’s father, had just returned from the airport after spending a month working in Guyana. He said he was in shock after learning of his son-in-law’s death.
“I was at the airport when I heard he died. I feel sad. He was hardworking and a good person to me. A good person to everybody. He always trying to help people,” Rampersad said.
He said three weeks ago, he spoke to Basdeo about a domestic problem but it was later resolved.
“I alone now will have to see about my grandson. I am taking him in for counselling. He witnessed the whole thing. He was with his father when it happened. I wasn’t here so I do not know what happened,” Rampersad said.
Asked whether they needed any assistance, Rampersad said they will do the funeral service for Basdeo.
“The family will take care of this. He was looking forward to Christmas,” Rampersad said.
He explained that Basdeo had been working in a burger shed since he retired from CEPEP. Rampersad said currently, the child seemed unaware that his father had died.
“Later this evening, when he looks for his father, he may realise what happened,” Rampersad said.
Officers of the Southern Division Homicide, led by ASP Persad, and including Insp Rebeiro, Sgt Maharaj, WP Sgt Bassarat, PC Mathura and PC Jaggesar, of the Homicide Bureau of Investigation Region Three, visited the scene. An autopsy has been scheduled for the Forensic Science Centre in St James next week.
