Mother of 3 chopped to death by ex-partner

Years of threats and abuse turned deadly on Tuesday morning, when a mother of three was fatally chopped by her former reputed husband at Albouystown, Georgetown.

Dead is 28-year-old Clarabel Johnson, a vendor, of Lot 142 Cooper Street, Albouystown.
Based on Police information, she was murdered a short distance away from her home at about 06:25h. Enquiries disclosed that Johnson and the suspect had a misunderstanding, after which he armed himself with a cutlass and dealt her several chops about her right foot and knee, causing an artery to be severed, leading to excessive bleeding.
The injured woman was picked up by neighbours and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she died while receiving treatment at about 07:21h.
When Guyana Times visited her home hours later, her mother, Patricia Johnson, said that she last saw her daughter at about 06:00h on Tuesday but did not realise that she left to go out. However, persons came knocking at their door minutes later, informing that her daughter was brutally hacked by her estranged partner.
By then, the entire community had ventured outside to witness the commotion as Clarabel’s lifeless body was left on the road. The suspect, her 45-year-old estranged partner, had already disappeared.

“I was in my bed and she came in my room while I was praying and we said ‘morning’. I thought she went back to her room but she went outside. I was still lying in bed when somebody come like 20 minutes after and said ‘look your daughter get chop’. I run to the door and see the crowd,” Patricia recalled.
The woman said she scrambled to reach outside where the incident occurred, but was told that Clarabel was already transported to the hospital. Thereafter, she accompanied her husband as they made their way over to the GPHC.
“At the hospital, I was going in but the doctor said that they’re working on her and that we can’t,” the grieving mother said, adding that as they waited outside, they were informed by a doctor that the young mother had succumbed to her injuries.
The dead woman was a mother of three children – aged 11, nine and seven. This newspaper was told that she separated from her partner years ago due to his violent nature and returned to her parents’ home.

Patricia indicated that her daughter ended the relationship with the suspect since their youngest child was born as a result of domestic violence. According to the mother, her daughter was always fearful for her life as the suspect constantly threatened her. This resulted in her applying for and getting a restraining order against the suspect – which was continuously violated.
“He chop she already in her face, in her hand. Anywhere he see her, he does threaten her. Anywhere. We does talk to him sometimes and tell him he can’t go on like this. He doesn’t want see her on the road. He does trace her all over and threaten her. Up to yesterday (Monday) he was here,” the grieving mother related.
Family members said that Clarabel worked as a vendor at Parika Market.
“She does buy clothes and sell it at the Parika Market. She does try to make it,” her mother expressed.
Relatives are contending that she must have left home to purchase items from a nearby shop when the incident occurred. The suspect has been arrested and is assisting Police with their investigation.
Only a few weeks ago, another mother was knifed to death by her reputed husband at Ithaca Village, West Bank Berbice (WBB), after she went to aid her mother, who was being attacked by the same man.
Vanessa Benjamin, a 21-year-old of Francine Street, Ithaca Village, had gone to assist her mother, who was being assaulted by the suspect who later attempted to commit suicide.
Benjamin, a mother of two, had separated herself from the suspect because she was constantly being abused. However, the man had not responded well to the break-up, and had made several threats before committing the act.