Heartbroken dad dies in sleep

THE pain of losing one son through murder and the agony of watching another son appear in court charged for the said murder proved too much for a Couva man, who was found dead in his bed yesterday morning. Relatives of Parasram Durbal Dass, 49, told Newsday they believed he died heartbroken after having to bury his 31-year-old son Sumarnath Santoo and then watch as his other son, Mesh Durbal, appeared before a Couva magistrate charged with Santoo’s murder. “He kept saying he couldn’t take it anymore...how one son died and the other one going down (was charged for the killing). He kept saying his belly and head were  ringing,” stated the dead man’s nephew-in-law, Balliram Narine, who spoke to Newsday yesterday.

Narine told Newsday that Dass was a healthy person who never complained of sickness or pains, and only began feeling unwell after his son Sumarnath was killed. Since the killing last Friday, Dass, a father of eight, had moved in with Narine, who lives near to his (Dass’) home at Carli Bay, Couva. “He was very traumatised, frustrated and depressed, especially since his other son is in prison,” Narine added. He explained that Dass shared a very close relationship with his eight children. Last November, Dass’ wife of 31 years, Dolly, sucumbed to an illness. Narine recalled that Dass was very upset and had cried throughout Santoo’s funeral on Tuesday. Following the service, he said Dass drank a “half” (two-pint bottle of rum) and around 10.30 pm, he retired to bed. He said Dass got up around 1 am yesterday to use the bathroom. Narine said he got up around 5 am to go for his morning walk. “Around 6.20 am, my wife was preparing breakfast and coffee and I decided to wake Dass because he does not eat without me and I found it strange that he was still sleeping so late,” Narine explained. He added that when he got no replies to his calls, Narine and his wife went into Dass’ bedroom and found him lying on the bed. “When I touch his head, he was already cold,” Narine said.

On Monday (the day before Santoo’s funeral), Dass’ youngest son Mesh Durbal appeared before a Couva magistrate charged with Santoo’s murder. Durbal was remanded in custody until next Friday when the case will be called again. Up to late yesterday, Durbal, who is being kept at Remand Yard, Golden Grove, Arouca, was not aware that his father had died. Visiting the scene was a party of officers led by Sgt Peter Burke of the Couva CID. Police sources said the body bore no marks of violence and they are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Investigations are continuing.