Bleeding from stab and chop wounds, Ruper Persad-Nathai fought off her cutlass-wielding brother-in-law, Premchan Ramrattan, and saved her family on Monday afternoon. Ramrattan, who committed suicide, went on a deadly mission at around 4 pm at the Scotts Road, Penal, home of his mother-in-law, Krishendaye Jaikaran, 62, whom he accused of wrecking his marriage. While some mourned Ramrattan's death, Persad-Nathai was hailed a hero yesterday by Pundit Basdeo Jaikeran. Krishendaye said her daughter Kumaria Ramrattan, 38, fled her marital home three months ago with her seven-year-old daughter, Sarika. "She had no other place to go so she came here...My son-in-law came several times and wanted her to return home," Krishendaye said.
However, Kumaria refused to return because she was afraid of Ramrattan. She revealed that Ramrattan would often beat Kumaria after he got drunk. "It was licks and more licks...One time he put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her," Krishendaye said. On another occasion, he took a stick and beat her on the head. Krishendaye said Kumaria tried to make the marriage work for the sake of their children, but after the last beating, she decided to leave. The distraught wife fought for custody of her children and won the case, Krishendaye revealed. However, Ramrattan's behaviour got worse.
"He would go where she work and curse...She had to hide in the Siparia Health Centre where she worked as a janitor," Krishendaye added. Persad-Nathai said two years ago, Kumaria overdosed herself with sleeping pills. "She didn't want to live anymore and she had to spend three days in the hospital," Persad-Nathai said. On the day of the chopping, Krishendaye was resting on the couch when Ramrattan walked in with a cutlass. He chopped her across the neck and demanded to see his wife. Kumaria fled. Persad-Nathai said she got "super-strength" when she saw Ramrattan going to chop up her mother a second time.
They began fighting and it was only when another relative intervened that Ramrattan left. He went to Rochard Road, Penal, where he was found slumped behind the wheel of his car. An autopsy conducted on his body yesterday revealed that he died from ingestion of poison. Pundit Jaikeran said the incident was unfortunate as he had regularly counselled the couple. He described Ramrattan as abusive and possessive. Supt Franklin Sampath and ASP Rajkumar headed investigations.
