Sherlock James, the gold miner who is accused of fatally stabbing his wife, Vinnette Headley-James, during an argument at their Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara home more than a week ago, was yesterday charged with murder and remanded to prison.
James, 54, of Lot 68 Section C Sideline Dam, Nabaclis, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Melissa Mittelholzer at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court.
The proceedings were adjourned until October 9th.
James had attempt to take his own life after allegedly committing the fatal stabbing. He was discovered lying in the backyard by the police and was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where he was admitted under police guard.
On Tuesday, he was discharged from the hospital and placed into police custody.
Headley-James, 46, a clothes vendor, was fatally stabbed around 12.50 pm last Wednesday during an argument at the Nabaclis home she shared with James and three of their eight children.
The argument reportedly stemmed from James accusing Headley-James of having an extra-marital relationship.
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.
The police, in a press statement had said that enquiries revealed that the couple had an argument on the preceding Sunday 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 allegedly 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.
