Killer dies 7 hours after charged with murder

Seven hours after being charged with the murder of his 41-year-old wife, Reena Dalchan, at Korea Village, Carapichaima, murder accused Pooran Dalchan was found frothing in the cells at the Freeport Police. He was rushed to the Chaguanas Health Centre where  he was pronounced dead on arrival by District Medical Officer, Dr Vishnu Geelal.

An autopsy carried out on the body yesterday revealed that death was due to heart failure. Reports revealed that Dalchan was released from ward seven of the San Fernando General Hospital around 9 pm on Monday. He was transported by a fire ambulance to the Freeport Police Station. According to reports Dalchan was charged with the murder of his wife around 11 pm by Sgt Keith Sylvester, and placed in the cell at the station. Around 6.15 am yesterday, PC Harriet made a check and discovered Dalchan frothing from the mouth. Fire officers were again contacted. They went to the Freeport Police Station where they took the prisoner to the Chaguanas Health Centre. He was attended to by Dr Geelal who pronounced him dead.

Senior officers told Newsday that as far as they are aware, Dalchan was deemed fit enough to be discharged from hospital to be charged. Following the death of Dalchan, Snr Supt Carmona and other senior officers of the Central Division carried out inquiries into the matter. At Dalchan’s home on Richard Lane, Enterprise Street, his son Andy, who turned 21 yesterday said it was the worst birthday he had ever experienced. The grieving man told Newsday that he was told the dreaded news early yesterday and was in a state of shock. He claimed that when he visited his father at hospital on Sunday, he was told  that doctors had given up hope that his father would ever have movement from his neck down. He said that his father expressed regret over killing his wife, and asked for forgiveness. “I forgave my father for killing my mother and I told him so, but to have my father snatched away from me so soon after the death of my mother, is too much to bear,” said the grieving man.

Andy explained that his father was finally able to receive the CT scan on Friday where it was discovered that the damage was extensive, and Dalchan who was paralysed from his neck down could not be assisted medically. Relatives were able to raise the $2,900 for the scan which was carried out at a private nursing home. The grieving Andy explained that he is now without a mother and father in such a short time and he was unsure how to deal with the loss. He added that his sisters Natasha and Asha were also in a state of shock over the death. He is convinced that his father would have wanted to be reunited with his mother in death.

On June 18, police officers received instructions to charge Dalchan with the murder of his wife, Reena. However, they were advised to hold their hand in the matter until the accused was well enough to face the murder charge. On the morning of June 16, Dalchan went to the Smith Street, Carapichaima home where his wife Reena was staying, and stabbed her repeatedly. He then jumped from the top floor of the house, landing ten feet below, onto the concrete ground. Relatives claimed that Reena left her marital home after 24 years of physical and verbal abuse. She had lodged several reports at the Chaguanas Police Station.