Cunupia woman chopped to death

The piercing screams of Bassie Sooknanan echoed throughout the small village of Persad Avenue, Cunupia, as she begged her killer to stop.

But by the time villagers reached her home Sooknanan, 53, was dead, chopped to death by a 53-year-old relative.

Investigators said the mother of two and grandmother of one was chopped on the head, face, and hands.

Earlier that day the suspect had accused Sooknanan of being with a man who he said was inside the house.

After chopping Sooknanan, police said, the suspect drank poison and collapsed.

Police said that at about 11 pm neighbours heard Sooknanan and the man arguing inside their house, then heard Sooknanan screaming. They immediately contacted the police and went to the house.

But by the time police arrived, Sooknanan's body was lying in the yard in a pool of blood. A bloodstained cutlass was also found.

The 53-year-old man was also next to her body, frothing at the mouth. He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he is warded in critical condition.

Neighbours said the couple were often heard arguing loudly, but they could not believe what had happened.

“This is really horrible what happened to her. She was such a nice woman, very pleasant and always smiling. But it appeared they were going through some problems,” one neighbour told the Sunday Newsday.

Speaking at the family home yesterday, Sooknanan’s son Akshay Sooknanan, 24, said his mother did not deserve to die that way.

“I should have been there to protect her," he said. "And I was not home. I was always there to protect her, but this time I was not there.”

A tearful Akshay said his mother has been physically abused for the past 30 years.

“She tried to leave, but she just could not. She loved the man who did this to her, and she hoped and prayed someday he would change. She prayed every day.

"But that did not happen. He got worse.”

He said two years ago the abuse worsened as the man began to drink alcohol daily and started hallucinating.

“He started to see all kind of things that were not there. Of late he started to see a man in the house and he accused my mother of being with this man. There was no one in the house – just me, my mom and him. And he kept pointing and cursing and asking my mother why she brought a man in the house.

"I begged my mother to leave many times, but she could not.”

Describing his mother as his world, Akshay said, “She was the most beautiful woman you would ever meet. She was kind to everyone and her smile brightens up a room. She just had a warm personality.

"She did not deserve this. I can’t believe she is gone,” he said, wiping his tears.

An autopsy on Sooknanan’s body will be done at the Forensic Science Centre.

Homicide Region Three police are investigating.