Man confesses to killing wife

NALINEE SEELAL

A 35-year-old Freeport labourer remained in custody yesterday, hours after he led police to his marital home where his 42-year-old wife was found frothing from the mouth.

At about 3 pm on Saturday, the man went to the Freeport Police Station and told officers that he and his wife, Sumatee Persad, were drinking alcohol and ingesting cocaine late Friday night when they had a heated argument and he began strangling her. He said following the act he left the house and did not return until Saturday when he decided to confess his alleged crime to police.

The man was taken to his Chickland Road home by officers who found Persad lying on a bed frothing from the mouth. When officers checked for a pulse, they found none.

A District Medical Officer was called to the scene who pronounced Persad dead, however, the doctor determined that Persad died around midday on Saturday and not Friday night as was suggested by the suspect.

Homicide officers who were also called to the scene obtained camera surveillance footage in which the suspect was seen leaving his home late Friday night.

Police suspect that Persad may have ingested a poisonous substance and they are awaiting the result of an autopsy today to determine the cause of her death.

Yesterday, neighbours of the dead woman said she and the suspect had been in a relationship for the past two years but they only began living together at the victim’s wooden home five months ago.

Neighbours said they hardly ever saw Persad but they knew that the suspect and Persad consumed alcohol. They were not aware that they also had a substance abuse problem.

Another of Persad’s neighbours said, “You never knew people were living there. The place was always quiet. We never knew what took place in that house. We are shocked to learn of our neighbour’s death and we are hoping that the police solve this mystery,”

Central Division Police, along with Homicide officers, are investigating.