The husband of Charmoney Charlie, the Crabwood Creek woman who died from a stab wound she claimed was self-inflicted, yesterday confessed to stabbing her during a misunderstanding at their home last Friday, according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.
Blanhum said Rishee Lakhraj, 64, of Lot 1803 Grant Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, was arrested for questioning following Charlie’s death. He admitted to the police yesterday afternoon that he committed the crime.
The police, Blanhum said, were initially under the impression that Lakhraj was mentally unstable and as such he underwent a psychiatric evaluation which has determined that he is mentally fit to be charged.
Lakhraj reportedly told investigators that around 10 pm last Friday, he and Charlie also known as ‘Pillow’ were imbibing alcohol in their bedroom when they had a misunderstanding. He claimed that he left and collected a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Charlie once to her abdomen.
The man also told investigators that after Charlie started to complain of experiencing pain, he was going to take his own life but she reportedly convinced him not to while stating that if anyone asked she would tell them that she inflicted the wound herself.
He related to the police that he took Charlie to his sister’s place in the same area where she related the said story and was subsequently taken to the Skeldon Hopsital.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News understands that an internal investigation has been launched at the hospital, which has since been accused of negligence. Charlie was reportedly taken to the hospital on two occasions prior to her death and was treated and sent away. However, after she continuously complained of experiencing pain, she was taken back to the hospital where she died.
The woman’s relatives had stated that they felt her life could have been saved, had doctors at the hospital paid more attention to her when she was first taken there for medical attention.
Charlie’s sister-in-law and next door neighbour, Tamini Lakhraj, had related to this newspaper that on Friday evening, Charlie ran over to her house and told her that she had stabbed herself because “she disgust” at her situation at home.
Lakhraj said she had pleaded with Charlie to go to the hospital, but she refused. The woman said after insisting, they finally took her to the Skeldon Hospital the following day.
She said when they arrived at the hospital, Charlie was seen by the doctor on duty, and to the family’s surprise, the stab wound was not treated. She added that Rishee then related that the woman passed away at home, early Monday morning.
Tamini had said that Charlie was an alcoholic and it was customary for her and her husband to fight fight every time she imbibed, as the man would plead with her not to drink and this always annoyed her.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled for tomorrow.
