SOUTH BUREAU Tuesday, June 17 2008

A DOCTOR discovered his wife dead when he returned home from work at the San Fernando General Hospital last week Friday. It is believed that the woman, Rachael Samlal, 30, committed suicide at her Sobrien Street, Siparia home.

Dr Norbert Samlal reportedly left his wife home on Friday morning but on returning at about 5 pm, he saw her body on a bed. Police investigators said that the woman who had two daughters, aged ten and two, was found with a bottle containing a liquid substance, in her hands.

Yesterday, the woman was cremated at the Shore of Peace, Mosquito Creek, but as to why she committed suicide, neither relatives nor police could say. A police report stated that when officers arrived at the home, relatives had taken the bottle from the dead woman’s hands.

Police said yesterday that the bottle, which contained a toxic liquid, is yet to be handed over to the police investigators. An autopsy confirmed she died from ingesting a poisonous substance.

The police report stated that Samlal returned home to find the bedroom door locked. After he knocked and there was no answer, Samlal told police that he was forced to prise it open. He immediately contacted the Siparia Police Station.

At their Siparia home yesterday a funeral took place under tents, but relatives refused to speak about the tragic incident. At the cremation site, Samlal also declined to say anything about the incident.