Girl, 9, two adults chopped to death at Tuschen –reputed wife critical
The house where the triple murder took place
The house where the triple murder took place

THE quietude of the countryside community of Tuschen, on the East Bank Essequibo was shattered early Thursday morning when loud screams roused residents as a canecutter broke into the house of his reputed wife and chopped three persons to death, including a child.

The window Joshua Franklin broke to gain entry to the house via the verandah (Photos by Sonell Nelson)
The window Joshua Franklin broke to gain entry to the house via the verandah (Photos by Sonell Nelson)

Dead are nine-year-old Ashley Boodhoo, her maternal grandmother Bibi Zalima Kahn, 55, and a man identified as Floyd Drakes, 30. Ashley’s mother, Geeta Boodhoo, 30, who happens to be the assailant’s reputed wife,was injured in the fracas, and is now hospitalised in a critical condition.

According to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Boodhoo underwent surgery for multiple stab and chop wounds; she was up to press time listed as critical.

Police reported that at about 00:30hrs on December 18, 2014, Boodhoo’s reputed husband, who has been identified as Joshua Franklin, smashed his way into her Phase Two, Tuschen New Housing Scheme home through a glass window, and severely chopped whoever happened to be in sight. Up to the press time, the suspect had not yet been arrested.

The body of Floyd Drakes, an upholsterer by profession, was found in a clump of bushes in the yard yesterday morning, while those of Ashley Boodhoo and her grandmother were found in the house.

Reports are that Drakes tried to escape, but was pursued and fatally chopped by an enraged Franklin, who has since gone into hiding.

Three other children, including twins, escaped the attack uninjured after they hid under beds in the modest wooden two-bedroom house.

Residents told this publication that Geeta Boodhoo and her reputed husband had separated as a result of domestic problems, and he was not residing with her. However, her mother recently moved to the location to assist with the children, because Boodhoo was working as a waitress at a bar at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara.

Neighbours say they were awakened by loud screams by the children yesterday morning, but did not venture outside because the area in which they live is very dark and desolate at nights, and they felt that there was an armed robbery next door.

One man said he only learnt there was an incident when police showed up at his neighbour’s house, and even then, he did not go over because in the area the few persons who reside there keep to themselves.

According to residents, Franklin showed up at the residence occupied by his reputed wife, children and her mother and became enraged when he peeped into the house and saw his wife with Floyd Drakes in a compromising position.

He then broke the louvre window by the verandah and entered the house and launched the cutlass attack.

Inside the house yesterday, it was evident that something terrible had taken place since there were pools of dried blood in the small living room, where it seems there was a party since beer bottles among other things were there and the bedrooms were ransacked.

Blood was everywhere inside the house, and on the verandah, the steps, in the yard and on the bridge.

Neighbours say they saw Ashley Boodhoo scrubbing the wooden steps yesterday, and she like her other siblings did not attend school regularly and often roamed the village unsupervised.

The surviving children were taken to the Leonora Police Station where arrangements were being made to hand them over to relatives of their mother, who is hospitalised while the suspect, Joshua Franklin’s son, who resides in a cottage in the same yard was assisting police with investigations yesterday.

Many residents expressed shock at the incident, but some said there was always some fight or quarrel at the home, and Geeta Boodhoo had a restraining order against Franklin following a fight when he moved out of the house.

Others said Franklin was the sole bread winner of the home, and provided for the woman and her children before they separated; but they were in reconciliation talks recently, until he got wind that she was seeing someone else.

(By Michel Outridge)

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.