Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Trudy DeHaarte, a 49-year-old Animal Inspector at the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of Haslington, East Coast Demerara.
DeHaarte turned her stun gun on herself in front of the Enquiries Office at the Brickdam Police Station Compound, around 09:00hrs this morning.
Police say that gun used by DeHaarte is one that she uses in her day to day operations as an Animal Inspector.
Initial investigations revealed that the victim and her husband, a taxi driver were having family issues, as such, the husband left their home about one week ago and began living with his father at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.
This morning, about 08:50hrs, DeHaarte is said to have confronted her husband and her son on Camp and Regent Streets in front of City Mall, where she took an object which was wrapped in a yellow cloth and hit her husband’s motorcar.
The man subsequently drove to the Brickdam Police Station and DeHaarte followed him.
The man, while waiting to make a report, saw the woman standing in front of the station and pointed her out to the rank who was performing his duty as the compound sentry. The officer then escorted the woman into the compound.
DeHaarte then walked to the entrance of the Enquiries Office, took out the object from the yellow cloth, which was concealed in a black plastic bag, looked to her husband and said “this is what you want” before raising the object – still concealed in the plastic bag to the right side of her head – and a clicking sound was heard and the deceased fell to the ground.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by Government Medical Officer Doctor Narine, who examined the body and a single wound was seen to the right side temple area of the head.
The woman, up to the time of her death, was receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Psychiatric clinic.
The body was escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Parlour.
Further investigations are ongoing.
