THE rural community of Parfait Harmonie, on the West Bank Demerara was plummeted into a state of shock and mourning following the discovery at around 09:00h yesterday of what appeared to be a murder/suicide involving a middle-aged couple. The murdered woman was positively identified by relatives as Kathleen Ho-A-Lim, 30, a mother of three and formerly of Barr Street, Kitty here in the city.

Her assailant is her reputed husband, Alfred Etwaroo, 40, who was found hanging from a rope in the couple’s bedroom, while Kathleen was discovered on the bed, in the same room, with blood oozing from her mouth.

Reports are that the children (aged five to 11) were all at home when the incident occurred, but are now staying with relatives.

Residents said they heard the screams, but did not bother to investigate. They later learnt that Etwaroo had killed his wife and took his own life early Saturday morning.

The couple had only just moved into the village with their children about four months ago.

A shopkeeper in the village said the last time she saw Etwaroo was on Friday night when he went to her shop to buy cigarettes. Kathleen’s brother-in-law, Ganeshwar Sookwah, told the Guyana Chronicle that they got to know of the incident when a neighbour brought two of the three children in search of them yesterday morning.

He said the last time he saw the couple alive was on Wednesday night when their two families joined in celebrating Kathleen’s birthday. He said nothing seemed amiss at the time as both Kathleen and Alfred were in good spirits. Which is why the family is now at a loss as to what may have triggered the murder/suicide, since as far as he knew, they were not having any problems.

He said from the little he knows, they were trying to complete their house.

Meanwhile, the Police are investigating the death of Brandon Charles, 28, of Fourth Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, whose body was found in the village with a gunshot wound.

Police said the discovery was made at about 06:00h yesterday in a yard at First Field, Kaneville.

The police are awaiting the results of a post mortem.