Sherlock James, the gold miner who attempted to take his own life after allegedly fatally stabbing his wife, Vinnette Headley-James during an argument at their Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara home one week ago has been discharged from the hospital and is now in police custody.
Commander of ‘C’ Division Calvin Brutus yesterday afternoon informed Stabroek News that the suspect was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) yesterday where he was hospitalised under police guard and was placed in police custody.
Brutus said the police will be seeking legal advice on the way forward in the matter. The suspect is expected to be charged before the end of the week.
Headley-James, 46, a clothes vendor, was fatally stabbed around 12.50 pm last Wednesday during an argument at the Lot 68 Nabaclis Sideline Dam home she shared with her husband and three of their eight children.
The argument reportedly stemmed from James accusing Headley-James of having an extra-marital relationship.
Following the attack, the suspect was discovered lying in the backyard by the police with a wound to his throat and was rushed to the hospital.
An autopsy later showed that Headley-James died as a result of multiple stab wounds.
Her sister, Charlene Headley, had told this newspaper that Headley-James had a wound to her neck and about five stab wounds about her body.
James, who works in the interior, would normally spend long periods away from home. He returned home on August 17th and reportedly accused his wife of having an extra-marital relationship.
At the time of the stabbing, the couple’s eldest daughter was at home. However, she was in the upper flat of the house, attending to her child. She only became aware of the deadly incident after she heard her mother crying. By that time, Headley-James had already been stabbed.
The police, in a press statement had said that enquiries revealed that the couple had an argument last Sunday August 18th and James assaulted his wife and fled the scene. He returned last Wednesday and an argument ensued and Headley-James was stabbed, the police added.
According to the police, the couple’s eldest daughter told detectives that Headley-James was in the process of putting her husband’s clothes in the yard for him to remove from the house.
“He (James) told her (his wife) not to do the same and threatened to kill her,” the daughter reportedly told police.
However, Headley-James continued and this reportedly caused James to become angry. As a result, he went into the kitchen, armed himself with a knife and allegedly stabbed her in the neck.
The injured woman fled to the backyard. Her daughter was alerted by her cries and rushed to her aid. She was placed into a taxi and transported to the Dr CC Nicholson hospital, where she died.
A neighbour, Brenda Haywood had told reporters that Headley-James rushed over to her house on the evening of August 18th with stab wounds to her body.
Haywood said it was not until that evening she learnt of the years-long abuse Headley-James faced when she broke her silence.
Headley-James will be laid to rest tomorrow.
Charlene said that the family will be hosting a candle light vigil in memory of her sister this evening at the Golden Grove Secondary School.
