Berbice domestic worker dies after severe beating by husband

Six days after allegedly being beaten by her husband, 44-year-old domestic worker Sabita Shamnarine of Line Path Village, East Berbice, Corentyne, died at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Saturday evening.

The death of the woman has left relatives feeling a sense of regret and anger as they are appealing to women who are abused to report the matter to the Police before it is too late.

They are calling on the Police to ensure the man who beat Shamnarine faces the full penalty of the law.

Shamnarine was reportedly abused repeatedly for several years, and on some occasions in the presence of their child, who is now five-years-old.

On the night of July 15, 2018, Shamnarine was beaten so badly that it left marks of violence about her head, neck, abdomen. She was allegedly cuffed, kicked and beaten by her husband, who has so far been only identified as Manoj; he has been arrested and remains in custody.

The woman was taken to the hospital by a friend on Monday last after she pleaded not to be taken back home for fear of more licks.

Mere hours after being admitted, she was reportedly rendered unconscious due to the beating and had to be transferred from the Skeldon Hospital to New Amsterdam on Friday after her condition continued to deteriorate. She was placed on life support in the Intensive Care Unit but eventually succumbed on July 21.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted today to determine the exact cause of death.

A family friend who spoke with this publication said they have been pleading with Shamnarine to leave the abusive relationship, but she was always very fearful of leaving.

“When her son get accident in 2016, someone went home to inform them and found him beating her naked; another time he pelted a hammer to her head,” the family friend stated.