Cops probe death of millionaire’s wife

SOUTH HOMICIDE detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Lynne Sumadh, the wife of millionaire businessman Lenn Sumadh.

Lynne, 73, died at Victoria Nursing Home on Archibald Street in Vistabella at about 7 pm on Saturday. Police sources said they had received information that she drank gramoxone at her Sumadh Gardens home in San Fernando last Monday.

When Newsday contacted Lynne’s husband yesterday, Sumadh denied that his wife had ingested a poisonous substance or that she had committed suicide.

“Not at all. You should ask the police that,” he said. Asked why his wife had to be rushed to the nursing home, Sumadh said, “The doctors are more qualified to say that.” He said his wife had suffered from heart and lung problems from “time to time” but she was not ailing. Sumadh referred Newsday to Dr Sean Perrot, who he said, had previously treated his wife at the nursing home.

When contacted, Dr Perrot said an autopsy was due to be performed tomorrow.

The doctor added that he was not at liberty to discuss the details of his patient’s condition in the media.

The Sumadh family is well-known throughout the country and owns several businesses and properties in South Trinidad.

Police sources have said that they are probing the validity of a report made by someone last week Monday that the elderly woman was using a hose in her yard.

According to police, Lynne was drinking a glass of Shandy Carib, which, police said she placed next to a container of gramoxone.

The officers said they were told that the gramoxone somehow spilled into the glass. Lynne, police said drank from the glass and fell sick.

Police said the woman was rushed to the nursing home where she was warded

but released sometime after. However, she had to be re-admitted after her condition worsened.

However, detectives said they were awaiting an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre tomorrow to confirm whether the woman died from poisoning.

Police went to Sumadh’s home yesterday where they interviewed the maid who was in the house at the time of the alleged incident. Police also interviewed Sumadh’s husband.

Homicide detectives are continuing investigations.