Stephon Nicholas
Tobago Correspondent
A Signal Hill woman is recovering in hospital after allegedly being chopped in the neck by her husband, who later set their home on fire with her disabled son still inside.
The incident occurred around 7.30 am yesterday at the family’s Mentor Drive home.
Police said Nicoya Bernard-Paul, 43, a nurse from Scarborough, was attacked during an argument with her husband Steve Fraser, 55. After the attack, Fraser allegedly set the house ablaze while Bernard-Paul’s son, who has cerebral palsy, was inside.
Bernard-Paul managed to escape and sought help from neighbours. She was rescued by relatives and taken to hospital, where she remains warded in stable condition.
Fraser died in the fire, while the woman’s son was rescued by firefighters.
The shocking incident has stunned the close-knit Signal Hill community, where several relatives of both parties live.
Bernard-Paul’s uncle, Bernard Marshall, who lives nearby, recalled seeing his niece fleeing from the burning house.
“I saw my niece covered with a towel. She was almost naked, covered in blood,” he said.
Fearing Fraser would continue the attack, Marshall took her into his home.
“She say, ‘Call the ambulance for me, please, that man inside there trip off and chop meh.’”
Marshall contacted family friend Leroy Fraser, who was nearby, to take her to hospital.
Fraser said he acted immediately.
“Ah run down, get my car, cover she up and head to the hospital. I wasn’t really studying anything else,” he said.
Despite suffering significant blood loss and severe pain, Bernard-Paul remained focused on her son’s safety.
“On the way to the hospital, she keep saying, ‘My son, my son, my son inside the house,’” Fraser recalled.
He said he had already called the 211 emergency number to notify the ambulance and fire services.
Marshall praised firefighters for their swift response, saying they arrived in time to save the disabled boy from the blaze.
“If was not for the fire service, that boy would have died, because they meet in the nick of time to put the fire out and get that boy out,” he said.
The tragedy has left residents struggling to come to terms with what happened.
“Everybody just studying it,” Fraser said.
“As neighbours and friends, we have to come together and watch each other’s backs. Have no time for hatred or fighting over land or house. It’s life we have to study. We have children coming up and we have to train them to deal with each other differently.”
Fraser’s relatives were also left stunned.
His sister, Paula Paul, said she never suspected anything was wrong in the marriage and described her brother as a quiet man. She recalled seeing the couple together in Roxborough during last week’s Republic Day celebrations.
“Upon hearing the news, I almost collapsed at work,” she said.
“I dunno my brother to do something like this. He is a very quiet person. He don’t really talk and them kinda thing dey.”
Bernard-Paul’s sister, who lives nearby, said the ordeal has left the family traumatised. She too said her relative had never indicated she was experiencing marital difficulties.
The incident comes just five days after a young Penal couple died in an apparent murder-suicide, following what relatives described as a toxic relationship.
Meanwhile, Women of Substance founder and president Onika Marks is urging men to seek help when struggling with emotional or personal issues.
Referring to a recent viral video showing a man assaulting a woman in a vehicle, Marks said many adults carry unresolved trauma and often resort to violence when faced with conflict.
“We need to go back to the root cause. These things are not happening overnight. Abuse is learned behaviour. Being exposed to domestic violence and toxic environments as a child interferes with the natural regulation of the brain,” she said.
Marks noted that relatives described Fraser as a reserved individual and argued that having safe outlets to discuss personal challenges can help prevent conflicts from escalating.
She called for continued conversations about domestic violence and for the creation of non-judgmental spaces where men can express their emotions.
“I have a million and one girlfriends I could call if I have a situation. Society needs to not be so harsh on our men when it comes to expressing their emotions,” she said.
She also encouraged men to seek professional help when feeling overwhelmed.
“Our men need to understand that it is okay to seek help. It is available. Access it without feeling embarrassed. Yuh can’t drink out the problems. It’s okay to be vulnerable at times.”
Prevention hotlines
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, contact:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-COPE (2673) (toll-free)
Lifeline: 800-5588, 866-5433 (toll-free), or 220-3636 (Flow to Flow)
Childline: 800-4321
