Central man strangles wife, commits suicide

A jealous Longdenville labourer who discovered that his wife was having an extra-marital affair, forced her to drink a deadly weedicide Lanate, and then strangled her with a shoe lace at their Edinburgh Road, Longdenville, home early yesterday.

He then drank some of the Lanate and collapsed in the bedroom of his home. The bodies of Arjoon Baldeo, 30, and his wife Hayshaine, 25, were discovered around 7 am yesterday by Nita Baldeo, a sister-in-law of the couple. Officers of the Chaguanas Police Station were alerted and a party of officers led by Supt Fredericks, Inspector Raphael, Ag Inspector Burke, Ag Sgt Ajith Persad and PCs Alexander and Guelmo went to the scene with District Medical Officer Dr Birja. Hayshaine’s body was discovered on a bed, while Arjoon’s body was found on the floor of the bedroom. Investigators seized a bottle containing the remnants of the deadly weedicide.

Nita Bhaggan, sister-in-law of the couple, told Newsday that Arjoon, a labourer at Trinidad Aggregate Products, discovered on Saturday that his wife was having an extra-marital affair. He told relatives that he saw text messages on his wife’s cell phone which read “missing you in bed.” He also saw “love bites” on his wife’s body and this was followed by a heated argument. Hayshaine left for work at Mario’s in Montrose on Sunday afternoon and when she returned home on Sunday night, she was again confronted by her husband. A heated argument ensued and the couple were spoken to by relatives.

Police investigators believe that between midnight and early yesterday, Baldeo forced his wife to drink the Lanate, strangled her with a shoelace and then drank some of the Lanate. Relatives claimed that Baldeo went to the home of his mother-in-law on Sunday and complained to her that Hayshaine was having an affair. He also revealed his findings to relatives and consumed alcohol. He returned to his Longdenville home on Sunday night and confronted his wife about the love bites and the text messages. This was followed by an argument and a heated exchange of words. Hayshaine’s relatives believe that Arjoon planned the murder/suicide. The couple were described as quiet and had made plans to travel to the United States next month for their first anniversary. An autopsy will be carried out today on the bodies. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised. Ag Sgt Ajith Persad is investigating.