THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday made an appeal for two units of ‘O’ positive blood for Geeta Boodhoo, who was chopped about the body by her reputed husband early on Thursday morning at her home.

A press release said Boodhoo was severely chopped about the body, has lost her left hand, and is in dire need of two units of ‘O’ positive blood.
GPHC asked members of the public to assist by donating the much needed blood to the Blood Bank in the GPHC Compound on Lamaha Street.

Boodhoo underwent emergency surgical operation on Thursday at GPHC, but her condition has been listed as critical up to press time.

Meanwhile, her mother, fifty-five–year-old, Bibi Zalima Khan, and nine-year-old, Ashley Boodhoo were yesterday laid to rest according to Muslim rites following a post-mortem.

Police have reported that Khan, Boodhoo and Floyd Drakes all died as a result of multiple incised wounds to the body.

However, the suspect in the slayings, identified as cane cutter Joshua Franklin, remained at large up to press time, and is being sought by the police.

In a fit of rage after gaining entry to the home of his reputed wife, Geeta Boodhoo, by breaking a window in the verandah, Franklin launched a cutlass attack which resulted in three being killed.

Boodhoo’s mother was hacked to death in the living room, while Ashley Boodhoo was fatally chopped in the kitchen after she had exited one of the two bedrooms in which she was hiding with her other siblings.

The body of Floyd Drakes, who was at the home at the time, was found near the outhouse at the rear of the yard.

Franklin reportedly tried to escape after launching his attack, but was pursued and chopped multiple times about the body.

Boodhoo escaped from the house after she had been injured, and went to a neighbour’s house, where she asked for help while hiding from her attacker.

The rest of the children, including twins, survived the brutal cutlass attack by hiding under a bed.

Joshua Franklin’s son, who resides in a cottage in the same yard as the Boodhoos, remains in police custody assisting with investigations.

The police have reported that at about 00:30hrs on December 18, 2014, the reputed husband of Geeta Boodhoo, 30, of Phase Two, Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, smashed his way into her home through a glass window and inflicted severe chops with a cutlass to her and others who were in the home.

As a result of the assault, Geeta Boodhoo’s mother, Bibi Zalima Khan, 55, her daughter Ashley Boodhoo, 9, and upholsterer Floyd Drakes, 30, also of Tuschen New Housing Scheme, EBE, succumbed to their injuries.

(Michel Outridge)