-probe still ongoing

Investigators are treating last Thursday’s Eping Avenue deaths as a murder-suicide but they are still exploring all possible angles.

Stabroek News was told yesterday that investigations are ongoing to ensure there was no third party involved in the incident which left Cuban doctor Guillermo Martinez, a 58-year-old physiotherapist, and 47-year-old Berbician Usawatie Persaud dead. Police believe that Martinez stabbed Persaud multiples time about the face, throat and abdomen before consuming a poisonous liquid.

The discovery was made after a foul smell started emanating from the apartment where Dr. Martinez lived and also conducted his practice. The police were informed and upon investigating found the two decomposing bodies. Later two knives, including one that was bloodied, and a small bottle were removed from the scene.

A senior police official told this newspaper yesterday that the incident is being treated as a murder-suicide but “we are working on other areas…” He said that a post-mortem examination conducted on Persaud’s remains was done on Monday and revealed that she was stabbed multiple times resulting in her death. The autopsy has not yet been done on the doctor since no one has come forward to positively identify him. The body is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home.

Stabroek News understands that the woman left her New Amsterdam home last Wednesday morning to travel to the city, where she claimed she was visiting a friend. Attempts to contact her later in the day were unsuccessful. Steve, the woman’s son, said that his mother would normally use Dr. Martinez’s services.