Pt Fortin man charged with murder

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions  Geoffrey Henderson yesterday gave instructions for a 35-year-old Pt Fortin man to be charged for the murder of his estranged common-law wife and attempted murder of his current common-law wife.

The man, of Warden Road, Point Fortin, was charged late yesterday evening and is expected to appear this morning before a Point Fortin magistrate to answer both indictable charges. DPP Henderson gave the instructions yesterday morning after perusing the case files and autopsy report, which had been brought to his office by investigating officers. The brutal stabbing murder of Guyanese-born Gail Augustine and attempted murder of Cleopatra Spines, who was also stabbed many times, has been described by investigators as a “crime of passion.” Augustine was originally from Berbice, Guyana while Spines lives at Coffee Street, San Fernando.

It is alleged that the man, in a fit of rage, attacked and fatally stabbed Augustine on Monday afternoon as she exited a boutique in Pt Fortin, where she worked. After stabbing Augustine, the suspect turned his attention on Spines, who was standing at an apple stall a few feet away. He dragged Spines from behind the apple stand and stabbed her repeatedly. Persons who witnessed the stabbings chased after the suspect, who ran to the Point Fortin Police Station, where he surrendered to officers. Investigators said the man carefully planned the murder, purchasing two kitchen knives from a ten-dollar store, moments before attacking both women.