Suriname shocked by domestic violence murder

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The police are still investigating the brutal murder of 28-year-old Charlene Mertowirijo by her former partner Rishi G. (37). In the meantime the suspect has been taken to the Nieuwe Haven lock up.

Several eye witnesses were heard yesterday. Consternation among colleagues at Nils, where the deceased has worked for the past three years, is great, while several eye witnesses are still in shock over the criminal act in broad daylight. Several people now say there are two sides to the story, but one thing is certain: Charlene and Rishi had a turbulent affair. Recently the young woman had lodged a complaint against Rishi at the police of Kwatta. The man had threatened the woman with a gun, which he would later use to kill her. ‘The police didn’t do anything, not even confiscate the weapon, no matter it was legal’ say unnamed sources.

Rishi and Charlene started an affair four years ago, although Rishi had been married for 17 years already back then. When his marriage stranded he started the divorce procedure, which he never completed. Three weeks ago he returned to his former wife, when Charlene had sold the house he had bought for them to live in. The affair with Charlene caused tension between Rishi and relatives especially when they found out that he had an illegitimate child. One of his relatives had then warned him about the woman. With no relatives for support, Rishi hit the roof when he found out that his partner had started an affair with someone else. Charlene was wounded in a fight and Rishi swallowed herbicides. While he was in hospital Charlene decided to sell the house.

Anil Raghoebarsing, director of Nils, describes Charlene as a very cheerful person. On the last day of her life she treated her colleagues to roti and phulawri, Indian food. She had been telling them that she had been craving for roti since Monday. More than once did she tell her colleagues that she might be killed by her lover.