Police Probing Chandresh for Assault of Ex-Girlfriend

Published on March 30, 2014
By Shaliza Hassanali
March 30, 2014 – guardian.co.tt

Tourism Minister Chandresh Sharma is under investigation by the police for the assault of his former girlfriend. Sacha Singh, the managing director of AMS Biotech Security Concept and AmSure T&T Ltd, who is in her late 20s, met with officers of the St Joseph Police Station on Friday at her Piarco business and gave a statement of Sharma’s alleged physical abuse during an altercation on March 12 at Grand Bazaar. Though a police investigation into such a matter can take as long as six months, the Sunday Guardian learnt that because of the high-profile nature of the matter it is being fast-tracked. ASP Joanne Archie, public information officer of the T&T Police Service, yesterday confirmed that an investigation was being conducted by the police against Sharma: “Statements were recorded and the investigation is in progress.”

Archie said “a charge or charges” may be laid after the investigation. Sharma’s investigation comes days after former minister of the people Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh was fired by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Tuesday, following allegations of disorderly behaviour on board a Caribbean Airlines flight on March 16.

Questions about the child arose
 Police were told that Singh met Sharma in the car park of Grand Bazaar, near Toppers around 7.45 pm on March 12. Sharma had agreed to meet Singh at the mall. In the back seat of Singh’s car was a 12-year-old girl and her mother, a schoolteacher. Sharma entered her Mercedes Benz car and sat in the front passenger seat, where questions about the child arose. The child eventually moved and Sharma spotted her. The child called out to Sharma who acknowledged her. Singh began to ask Sharma about maintaining the child. Sharma and the girl’s mother came out of the vehicle arguing. Shortly after, there was a scuffle between Sharma and the woman.During the melee, Sharma urged the woman to stop hitting a Brahmin boy. Singh came out of the car and held on to Sharma’s tie, but was slapped across the face.

Sharma, the police were told, pushed Singh who fell back and hit her head on her car and blacked out for several minutes. After gaining consciousness, Singh said they were checking her pulse. She said she was told that Sharma was putting water on face, forehead and head to revive her. Singh said Sharma kept saying she was fine and told her not to go to the hospital, but instead she should go home and take a shower. Singh called her doctor at St Augustine Private Hospital who told her he was not on duty. She went home and took painkillers. The following day, Singh was examined by Dr Pulchan at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex who diagnosed that she suffered from a mild concussion and haematoma (swelling of the brain). She then reported the incident to Sgt Ogiste at the St Joseph Police Station. Traumatised by the incident, Singh left the country on March 14 and returned on March 25, where the police took a report three days later. The matter is being investigated by Insp Naim Gyan, who refused to comment yesterday when contacted.

Singh: I am pressing charges
Contacted yesterday, Singh said she was pressing charges against Sharma, who she met at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in January 2013. Singh admitted that she shared a relationship with Sharma, stating that she has evidence to back up her claims. “I found out about the child last November by his (Sharma’s) wife. That’s when things started to go downhill with us because when I asked him repeatedly about the child, he kept denying (the child) was his.” She said Sharma had no right to push her down because she brought the little girl to see him. Stating that she had established her business before she met Sharma, Singh, a former Miss T&T contestant, said, “It is not that I am bitter, vindictive or want revenge against him…it’s about living up to your responsibilities and speaking the truth. It’s an innocent child we are speaking about.”

Singh said she could have left the matter, but realised that it could have been far more serious. “I could have died. This should serve as a message to all women that they can stand up and fight men who are abusive.”

She said she was determined to press charges against Sharma because if left unchecked, someone could get killed in the future as a result of his actions. Singh described the incident as an abuse of public office. “The thing is, if you grab a woman’s breast and you get removed and you knock down a woman…same thing.”

Ramesh Maharaj: PM ought to remove him
Yesterday, former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said on the basis of the PM’s action against Ramadharsingh, the same should apply for Sharma. “An assault is when you attempt to hit someone. If you hit, then it’s assault and battery, which is a criminal offence and would have to answer a charge in the Magistrate’s Court.” Maharaj said Sharma’s report was far worse. “It’s a form of domestic violence because he was friendly with her.” Maharaj said a minister does not have to be charged to be fired, but the charge aggravates the situation. A minister, Maharaj said, must be an exemplar. “The PM ought to remove him…There must be high standards in public life.” Maharaj said an investigation like this should take only a few days. “These matters are simple investigations. So this summary complaint must be filed within six months of the date of the incident.”

Sat maintains it’s a domestic affair
Secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha said Ramadharsingh’s issue was quite different from Sharma’s. “Ramadharsingh’s incident happened in an aircraft with other passengers who were endangered. This is a different thing—a domestic dispute…lots of people have. One is a domestic affair, and one is public manifestation of bad behaviour. It was a different situation because lots of politicians…they have domestic problems. So that is why I drew the line.” Maharaj maintained that the matter involving Sharma will take its course. Maharaj insists that he was not condoning domestic violence.

Seebaran–Suite: If it is true… it is to be deplored
Women’s activist, chairman of Advocates of Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive Equity (Aspire), attorney Lynette Seebaran–Suite said: “If it is true, then really, it is to be deplored because domestic violence is one of the most pervasive crimes society faces.” Seebaran-Suite said she has been trying to wrestle with the problem. “So if we have exemplars in society or people who are supposed to be exemplars committing that kind of violence, then they should face the full brunt of the law.” Seebaran-Suite said anyhow you look at it, “an assault is an assault.”

No response from Sharma, PM
Yesterday, a call made to Sharma’s phone was answered by someone who stated that the minister was attending a function. Another call at 6.30 pm was not responded to. Text messages sent to Sharma’s cell phone at 4.38 pm, 6.37 pm and 6.59 pm were not answered. Sharma also did not respond to questions e-mailed to him. Meanwhile, calls and texts to Persad-Bissessar’s phone went unanswered.
News

Source: www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-03-30/police-probing-chandresh-assault-ex-girlfriend

20 Women Died this Year from Domestic Violence

By MIRANDA LA ROSE Saturday, March 29 2014

Leading women’s organisations tracking women’s death as a result of domestic violence locally, have recorded 20 for the year, according to ASPIRE Chairman Lynette Seebarran-Suite.

However, she noted that while the Network of NGOs for the advancement of women have recorded 20 deaths for the year, the TT Police Service Crime And Problem Analysis (CAPA) branch has five on record for the year. The network does its tracking using media and other reports, made available to them.

To curb the increasing number of incidence of violence against women ASPIRE (Advocates of Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive Equity) is proposing a public health model at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and zero tolerance among other emerging strategies.

As a panelist on the subject “Women in Violent Circumstances” on Friday at the inaugural Caribbean Association of Women Judges inaugural conference and project launch, at the Hyatt Regency, Seebarran-Suite said in spite of legislation and protection orders being in place, a number of gaps existed in the current measures in place to women and girls from domestic violence.

The gaps include police not charging for assault offences and shunting complaints to the Domestic Violence Courts, perpetrators enjoy impunity for inappropriate police response, and inadequate numbers of officers dedicated to respond to domestic violence.

In addition victims are removed from the home instead of the perpetrators, and there are dedicated facilities for holding perpetrators at stations. Reports of domestic violence are on the increase, she said as more awareness programmes are leading women to make public their situation in the media, and to the police.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,192593.html

Time for Action

By Andre Bagoo Friday, March 28 2014

Legal minds: Executive director of the International Association

of Women Judges Joan Winship, left, with Justice Desiree Bernard,

right, the keynote speaker at the inaugural conference of the

Caribbean Association of Women Judges at Hyatt Regency,

Port-of-Spain yesterday.
Photo by Rattan Jadoo

AMID ongoing concerns over the social issues facing children today, a group of women judges has taken the step to tackle the issues. And for Justice Desiree Bernard, it is high time.

“The time for action is now,” Bernard, the Commonwealth’s first female Chief Justice (Guyana), said at the opening of the inaugural conference of the Caribbean Association of Women Judges (CAWJ). The conference is hoped to be one of a series of projects designed to deal with social issues.

Her call came as Chief Justice Ivor Archie also urged judges to take a more active role in tackling social issues within the frame-work of the law.

At the conference, which opened at the Hyatt Regency, Dock Road, Port-of-Spain, several workshops were held on topics such as “The Courts and the Protection of Children”; “Children in Care/Custody in the Caribbean”; “Domestic Violence and its Effect on Children”. Today, the three-day conference is expected to enter its second day and will focus on issues such as single-parent families.

Bernard yesterday rallied the troops, saying “the time for action is now” on issues children face such as violence and abuse.

“How do we protect and save the children of the region?” she said. “There is a pressing need to address and highlight some of the issues which children face.” Among these issues, she said, were: child sexual abuse; violence against minors; trafficking in children and teenage pregnancies. She called for more public awareness of international law which call on nation states to protect children and lamented gaps in implementation.

Bernard lamented the problem of absent fathers and broken families.

“Young boys find within gangs what they do not find in their families,” she said. “The gangs become their families with destructive consequences.” She knocked some fathers’ abdication of responsibilities noting the endless cases in court of fathers not complying with child maintenance orders.

Also addressing the opening was Justice Joan Charles who said the objectives of the CAWJ would include: promoting women’s access to the courts and to equal justice; eliminating gender bias from judicial systems.

“Magistrates and judges see firsthand the breakdown of the family and the deleterious effect thereof. We must enter the domain and bring change to our social environment such as our office will allow,” she said. The CAWJ will engage in advocacy, mentorship and embark on a first project called the “Family Support Network and Violence Reduction Programme”. At the same event, Chief Justice Ivor Archie also called for a more active role judges in social issues.

“These women judges have agreed that they will not stand by and with that position I concur,” the Chief Justice said. “Being a judge carries with it a social responsibility and it would be remiss if, as human beings, not to attempt to alleviate the social ills and tragedies to which we are all witness.”

The Chief Justice submitted that every judge has a duty to uphold the constitutional right to liberty and security of person.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,192531.html

Ending Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the United States | The White House

Lynn Rosenthal

March 20, 2014
01:13 PM EDT

This week, I was honored to join a first-of-its-kind meeting at the White House: a roundtable of business leaders and advocates called upon to discuss building public-private partnerships aimed at helping end domestic violence and sexual assault in the United States. The meeting served as an opportunity to share strategies and concrete steps companies can take to address violence in their workplaces and communities.

During the gathering, we heard from several companies that are working to improve the status quo, including Avon, Macy’s, Allstate, Viacom, and Kaiser Permanente.

The need for action could not be more urgent. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in five women is the victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. In fact, 60% of Americans 15 years of age or older know a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Not only does domestic violence affect victims and families; it can also harm entire communities and the nation. More than 8 million paid days of work are lost every year because of domestic violence, and even by conservative estimates, domestic violence costs our economy more than $8 billion a year in lost productivity, health, and mental health costs alone.

Since day one, the Obama administration has worked hard to combat violence against women. Vice President Biden has championed many of the administration’s efforts, including helping create new campaigns to reach teens and young adults, and working to build new initiatives to reduce domestic violence homicides. And to lead by example, President Obama has directed federal agencies to develop policies to address domestic violence and sexual assault in the federal workforce. Recently, President Obama established the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.

The White House’s commitment coincides with NO MORE’s goal of bringing together corporations to increase support for domestic violence and sexual assault programs. A collaboration of corporations and nonprofit organizations, NO MORE seeks to normalize the conversation around these issues and end the stigma, shame, and silence of domestic violence and sexual assault. Bringing the NO MORE campaign to White House for this important conversation was a reminder that working together can help end violence against women.

The spirit of yesterday’s gathering can be summed up by something President Obama once said about domestic violence:

We need to make sure every victim of domestic violence knows that they are not alone; that there are resources available to them in their moment of greatest need. And as a society, we need to ensure that if a victim of abuse reaches out for help, we are there to lend a hand. This is not just the job of government. It’s a job for all of us.

Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women.

Source: www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/03/20/ending-domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault-united-states

Hazel: Stop the Violence

By Anna Ramdass

Story Created: Jan 15, 2013 at 10:16 PM ECT

Story Updated: Jan 16, 2013 at 3:40 PM ECT 

 

Gender-based violence is on the rise in this country and it must be stopped.

This, according to Hazel Brown, head of the network of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women.

In a release to the press, Brown affirmed the continuing need to deal with gender-based violence as it occurs at all levels of the society, to break the silence and oppose the impunity around it.

She stated that a second form of violence “is inflicted on women by the fact that perpetrators who hold high office or who are public figures, rarely face any form of justice. They know that they can do it without paying the price”.

“We continue to advocate for individual and collective responses by men that move beyond apologies to actually formulating and participating in processes of transformation and change. We must examine the root causes and the impact of gender-based violence including verbal and emotional abuse, and we most develop strategies to address it including appropriate sanctions, legal and otherwise,” stated Brown.

She added that it is not just the individual perpetrator, who must be held accountable, but also the community and the state, which cannot stand idly by and watch women being denied support and justice in their time of need.

Brown stated that there is much that could be done to enable men in public office to lead a reflective conversation on masculinity and violence.

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Hazel-Stop-the-violence-187051901.html

Domestic Violence Help

Story Created: Jan 5, 2014 at 8:54 PM ECT  

Story Updated: Jan 5, 2014 at 8:56 PM ECT  

Head of the T&T Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Rape Crisis Centre Diana Mahabir Wyatt says the incident reported last night in Longdenville of a woman stabbing to death a man accused of abusing her...is just one of many cases where domestic violence turns fatal.

She says a special child abuse and domestic violence unit should be established within the police service.

Although the police service already has a community police unit and a victim and witness support unit under its ambit, she says both units are understaffed and inadequate.

Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt says not enough is being done to protect women in spite of the Domestic Violence Act.

 

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/videos/-Domestic-Violence-Help---238802211.html

Strangled Mom Cremated

Tuesday, March 11 2014

 

Weeping son: Relatives console Brent Murgan during the funeral of his mother Marilyn Murgan at the family home in Carapichaima yesterday. ...

“MY baby did not deserve this,” Somaria Murgan said as she sobbed over the coffin of her daughter, Marilyn, who was strangled at her home in Carapichaima, a week ago on Carnival Tuesday.

Marilyn, a mother of four, was strangled by her common-law husband Harold Ali, who drank a poisonous substance and died a day later. 

Murgan said she had worked so hard to “mind her daughter” and now her life was snuffed away. The funeral service was held at the family’s home at Wyaby Road off Waterloo Road, Carapichaima. Delivering the eulogy, relative Elsa Anderson said Marilyn had set an example for others in the way she carried about herself. “Marilyn was a mother, daughter, aunty and best friend. We all loved her and she loved us. Marilyn even though we don’t have you here, you would always be remembered,” she said. Anderson said to many Marilyn was like a “fairy godmother” always helping others in times of need. 

After the funeral, Marilyn’s body was cremated at the Waterloo Cremation Site.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,191723.html

Relative Arrested

By CECILY ASSON Monday, March 10 2014

 

AFTER spending several days on the run, during which he telephoned death threats to his own family, police yesterday arrested the man who stabbed to death his relative Knolly Hudlin, 62.

Anxious relatives yesterday breathed a sigh of relief following the capture of the 39-year-old suspect in the murder of Hudlin who was a contractor. Police reported that he was arrested at about 3.45 am at an unfinished house at McNish Trace, Hindustan in New Grant. He was reportedly being given food and clothes by friends living in the area. Hudlin of Penal Rock Road, Penal was stabbed to death at his home on Carnival Tuesday by a close male relative who had a restraining order taken out against him in January by family members.

Hudlin’s death according to a post mortem, was due to a single stab wound to the heart.

Since the incident the suspect who was employed in the family business had been on the run.

According to police sources, acting on a tip off yesterday, a team of police officers led by Insp Granger and including Sgts Ramsingh and Victor, Cpls George and Ganesh and PCs Nanan, Singh and Cooper of the Penal CID went to a house in New Grant where they found the suspect.

Officers of the San Fernando CID also assisted in the exercise. Charges are expected to be laid later this week against the suspect. Speaking to Newsday yesterday, a relative said: “We are feeling safe now that he is in custody. He had been calling us and threatening us with murder. He needs to remain behind bars.”

Hudlin will be buried today at Batchiya Cemetery in Penal, following a funeral service at Belgrove’s Funeral Chapel, Coffee Street, San Fernando. Investigations are continuing.

Source:  http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,191687.html

NPTA chief: Zero tolerance against abuse of children

Programme to help youths launched

By Michelle Loubon

Story Created: Feb 13, 2014 at 10:47 PM ECT

Story Updated: Feb 14, 2014 at 7:04 PM ECT 

 

rce: too many cases”: Zena Ramatali

“We are saying zero tolerance against abuse of children.”
Zena Ramatali, president of the National Parent/Teachers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NPTA) made this comment Wednesday during the launch of the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) programme titled “Integrating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Services with Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Young People” at Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain,
Ramatali also said sex education should be properly taught in the curriculum.
A special feature of the launch was the signing among stakeholders including Gerard Latulippe, High Commissioner for Canada.
Canada has donated about Cda$25,000 to eliminating GBV.
A public media campaign highlighting domestic violence will follow soon.
Ramatali said: “We are saying ‘zero tolerance’ to abuse against children. We are saying ‘zero tolerance’ to rape, incest and violence.
“Too many cases are swept under the carpet. Too many girls are being abused.
“Children and women are dying. Too many older men are impregnating younger girls. We must not make any apologies for them. They must feel the brunt of the law.
“They are endangering the lives of our young children. They are committing incest. There has to be a move to protect children in a meaningful way.
“It is time to report cases of abuse.”
While the authorities are calling upon citizens, including doctors and teachers, to report abuse, Ramatali said: “Teachers are afraid to report for fear of victimisation. Teachers are fearful for their safety. We trust the law will protect them.”
On Tuesday night, Ramatali said she received a report about an abuse case in a school.
She said: “The teacher failed to report it. The child was sexually assaulted by another student from the school. The child is now out of school.
“I hope it will be reported within the next 24 hours. The incident happened last year October. It is a sad day. These things have been happening all the time.”
Ramatali said she is yet to receive a copy of the new curriculum. But Ramatali said teachers and principals need training in delivering the new curriculum.
They also need specialised attention with regarding to delivering sex education which is not officially on the curriculum.
She also said sex education has to be taught properly.
On the issue of the new curriculum and sex education, Ramatali said: “I understand the curriculum does not cater indepth on sex education.
“What we are saying is the Ministry of Education could partner with the Ministry of Health to deliver sex education to our students.
“Teachers don’t feel comfortable to deliver sex education. So to avoid any misunderstanding, bring in resource personnel to teach sex education in our schools to both primary and secondary students.
“Students need education to give them choices. They need to understand the value of abstinence and why they should not engage in sexual activity at a young age.
“In the event that somebody touches them in an inappropriate manner, they will be able to report it or tell someone.”
Ramatali added: “I hope the new curriculum will deliver sex education for primary schools. There is nothing there that says they have sex education.
“They have sections pertaining to puberty which the teachers are concerned about.
“The ministry has not said it will allow sex education by itself to be taught in schools. We have to look at how can teachers be trained to properly deal and recognise child abuse.”
Ramatali said she understood the new curriculum included components like values and character education.
She also advised teachers who have been abused to seek help. She cited the most recent example of former Tobago school principal David Smith who appeared in court on Monday to answer 14 sex charges.
She said: “This is a wake-up call for teachers. They could seek help to be able to cope with trauma in their lives.”
Asked about the FPATT Gender Based Violence programme launch, Ramatali said: “I think it is an excellent initiative. I am blessed to have been here today to see the FPATT take another positive step towards eliminating violence against women and children.” 

 

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/NPTA-chief-Zero-tolerance-against-abuse-of-children-245471561.html

 

Akousa Bares Her Soul

By Cecily Asson Sunday, March 9 2014

BROUGHT to her knees after losing everything which she believed was most important and later shocked into reality that life was more than a husband, a house, a car and academic degrees, Trinidad-born Akosua Dardaine-Edwards, 39, an internationally known advocate for the empowerment and development of women has returned home to tell her story. On Wednesday, she will launch her first book What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love at National Library and Information System (NALIS) in Port of Spain..

What Did I Learn Today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love charts Dardaine-Edwards’s journey from a shy and self conscious child to a mature, self confident woman through the realisation that unconditional self love is the key to this transformation.

According to Dardaine-Edwards, the lessons learnt in Northern Uganda where she spent the last 15 months working with women who experienced 27 years of civil war, was enough to make her wake up and accept herself for who she is and show that she is “not the victim of anything.” She only returned home in January. Dardaine-Edwards told Sunday Newsday: “Coming from the western world, going into a situation (northern Uganda) where there is extreme poverty I have never seen before, I personally thought that I was going to be the one to go there and help them and be someone that they come too, to help change things.” It turned out, she said, that “I changed.” The resilience of the women, many of them who were at the time “child soldiers” during the war made her see life from a different perspective, she said.

After 27 years of war, those women found ways to be happy within “their circumstances,” she said. In her book Dardaine-Edwards, an accountant by profession, tells of her childhood years growing up in Simpson Brown Terrace, Cocoyea, her going abroad to study, her failed marriage and the ability to re-discover just who she is.

“I was never planning on writing a book,” Dardaine-Edwards said, “All I was doing at the time was just detailing all my thoughts — just journaling my different journeys of what I have been through in my life...

“The time has definitely come for me to show up as myself.”

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,191642.html

Family Wants Separate Funerals for Murdered Mom, Killer Dad

By Susan Mohammed

Story Created: Mar 6, 2014 at 9:10 PM ECT

Story Updated: Mar 6, 2014 at 11:12 PM ECT 

 

THE family of slain Carapichaima mother Marilyn Murggan wants a funeral service for her separate from her husband, Harold Ali, who confessed to killing her before he committed suicide. 

Murggan’s son, Christopher Sudansingh, told the Express yesterday  he and his siblings were finding it difficult to come to terms with the circumstances under which their mother died. 

Sudansingh, 32, said: “We are not coping well. We are still in shock. My sisters do not want a joint funeral. They cannot come to terms with what he did.” 

Sudansingh said he discovered his mother’s body in the bathroom of her home at Wyaby Road, Waterloo, on Carnival Tuesday. 

An autopsy performed yesterday by Dr Valery Alexandrov found the 50-year-old mother of four suffered manual strangulation and there were vague imprints of fingernails on her neck. 

Alexandrov also performed the autopsy on Ali, also 50, and confirmed that he ingested a poisonous substance, a herbicide.
Ali died at San Fernando General Hospital on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, he telephoned one of his daughters and confessed to killing Murggan and said he was going to drink poison. Hours later he was found lying in a drain in Victoria Street, Gasparillo. 

Of his mother’s relationship with Ali, Sudansingh said they had lived together for almost four years and Ali was never violent to her. 

Sudansingh said on Carnival Monday his mother sold drinks from a bar in front of their home. He said he was told that later that night villagers heard the couple quarrelling and Ali left the house in his vehicle.

“This is very shocking. They had their usual quarrels but there was never violence. He cared for my mother a lot,” said Murggan’s son. 

Funeral arrangements were being made for the weekend. 

Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Family-wants-separate-funerals-for-murdered-mom-killer-dad-248923311.html

Killer Dies in Hospital

By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Thursday, March 6 2014

A DAY after he strangled his common-law wife at their home in Carapichaima, Harold Ali died at hospital yesterday morning where he was warded after he drank a poisonous substance shortly after committing the murder.

Ali, police sources said, managed to telephone his relatives to whom he confessed to killing mother of four Marilyn “Maro” Murggan, 50, on Carnival Tuesday. Murggan, a CEPEP worker of Wyaby Road off Waterloo Road in Carapichaima, was found dead on the floor of her bathroom at about 6.15 am on Tuesday.

Ali, who lived with Murggan and other relatives in the house, fled the scene shortly after her body was discovered. Police said he later telephoned relatives telling them that he had strangled Murggan. Shortly after, officers of the Gasparillo Police Station found Ali lying on Victoria Street, frothing from the mouth.

The officers rushed Ali to the San Fernando General Hospital where the 50-year-old man was warded in critical condition and died yesterday at about 2 am, while under police guard.

Murggan’s sister Susan Sincere told Newsday that although other relatives were inside the house, no one heard any commotion from the couple. She noted that relatives became aware of the incident only when Ali’s relatives arrived at the house and told them that Ali had just called from a cellular phone to say he had just killed Murggan.

Police and ambulance personnel were contacted and subsequently took Murggan, a grandmother of one, to the Couva District Health Facility where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Autopsies are expected to be performed today on the bodies of Murggan and Ali at the Forensic Science Centre in St James. Sincere noted that she did know too much about Ali and confirmed that both autopsies are to be done today. Investigations are continuing.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,191514.html