A 23-year-old housewife has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of her mother-in-law during a domestic dispute at Kissing Rocks access road in the Mabaruma Settlement, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini).
Deborah Williams, of Mabaruma Settlement, appeared virtually before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, where she was charged with the murder of 47-year-old Sharlim Anthony, also known as “Sharlene”. She was not required to plead to the indictable offence and was remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to August 5.
Reports are that the fatal stabbing occurred on Saturday, July 12. According to police reports, Williams and her husband, Raj Anthony, who is the son of the deceased, were consuming alcohol at their residence when an argument ensued. During the altercation, Williams allegedly struck her husband in the forehead with a piece of wood, rendering him unconscious.
Shortly after, Raj Anthony’s parents, who reside nearby, were alerted to the incident. Upon arriving at the home, the victim reportedly confronted her daughter-in-law, asking, “What did you do to my son?”
Williams allegedly responded by attacking her mother-in-law with a broken beer bottle, delivering several stabs to her right arm and upper back.
Both injured parties were rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital with the assistance of relatives and residents. While Raj Anthony was admitted for treatment, his 47-year-old mother succumbed to her injuries around 21:30 that night.
Williams was arrested shortly after and taken into custody at the Mabaruma Police Station. Following investigations, she was formally charged with murder.