Audrey Harris, a 75-year-old woman of Lot 11 Princes Street, Georgetown, was murdered yesterday morning and her “mentally ill” nephew who resided on the ground floor of her two-storey house is being sought in relation to the killing.
According to a police press release, the murder was committed by Harris’ 50-year-old nephew. Investigations revealed that Harris lived with her reputed husband, Laurence Hayde, a labourer, and her nephew.
At approximately 7 am yesterday, Hayde left home for work, leaving Harris and her nephew at home.
According to the suspect’s sister, Lois Byass, at around 9 am, she was on her way to work when she received a phone call from Harris’ neighbour stating that she had heard Harris screaming. Byass said she rushed to the scene and on arrival, observed her aunt lying motionless on the ground in her yard at the side of the house in a pool of blood. She immediately reported the matter to the police.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect and Harris had an argument because she had wanted him to leave the house and he refused. Information gathered, disclosed that the suspect is mentally ill, and during the argument the suspect, armed with a knife, dealt the victim two stabs on both sides of her neck. At the time also, Harris was armed with a hammer. After being stabbed, she fell to the ground while her nephew was seen running out of the yard.
The scene was processed by ranks from CID. The body was lying facing downward, clad in a blue and white night dress. A hammer was found under Harris.
The woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was then transported to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Parlour, to await a post-mortem examination.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Harris’ reputed husband, Hayde, said, “I was going to work at Lusignan when I get the call. When I meet home police was on scene and say I can’t pass. Then afterwards I pass and I get to see me wife. She had a stab to her neck and blood been all over. It’s her nephew he call name is ‘Chris’. He use to come first saying he feeling sick, like two months back he come lay down on the step and seh how he want go hospital and he aunty carry he. He go and tek he treatment and so on and come back. Meh wife seh ‘Hayde left he leh he relax lil’ and we put him down stairs, then after he deh there he start go on bad. Meh wife tell he move out like two weeks back but he refuse and does cuss up. So meh thinking she tell he again and this is wah happen.”
Attempts to find the suspect so far have been unsuccessful. (Shuntal Glasgow)
