A 47-year-old labourer of Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice has been charged with attempted murder and remanded to prison for allegedly burning his wife with a kerosene stove.
Edward Sukhu called “Paul” had virtually appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh on Friday last where he was not required to plead to the charge of attempted murder committed on his wife, Zeena Haripal, 40.
The incident had occurred at their home on February 15 where the couple’s 20-year-old son, Joshua Sukhu, was also injured.
According to the police, the 20-year-old construction worker reported that his mother and father had an argument over a cell phone.
He said, at the time, his father was under the influence of alcohol and his mother was cooking on a one-burner kerosene stove in the kitchen on the lower flat of their home.
According to the young man, the argument got heated and his mother had turned away. The son related that his father then picked up the stove and threw it on his mother’s back, causing the flammable liquid to spill onto her hair and clothing.
Within seconds, his mother was on fire. In a bid to assist, Joshua rushed to his mother where his clothing also caught fire.
Meanwhile, in a bid to escape, the husband tried to rush out of the house but due to water on the floor at the front of the door, he slipped and fell face downwards, injuring himself.
An alarm was raised and neighbours rushed over to assist.
According to a source close to the family, Sukhu was bleeding through his ears when they arrived at the house.
The trio had to seek medical attention.
