A Belmont woman, who was said to have been a long-time victim of domestic abuse at the hands of a close male relative, was stabbed to death on Sunday during an argument with the suspect at her home.
The bloody attack against Wendy Bertrand of Bowen Trace, St Barbs, Belmont, reportedly occurred in front of her eight-year-old son.
Bertrand, 53, who worked as a nurse at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, succumbed to injuries after being stabbed with a kitchen knife multiple times about the head, face, neck, chest and arms during the incident.
Residents contacted police around 6.45 am, to report a domestic disturbance at Bertrand’s home, noting that shouts and screams were heard.
The male suspect was said to have fled the house before they arrived.
Emergency Health Services took her to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, where she died around 7.36 am.
Guardian Media was told the suspect was charged with assaulting Bertrand just over six weeks ago, when he allegedly stabbed her with a broken bottle, causing grievous injury.
Officers confirmed the woman had submitted several reports of domestic abuse against the suspect who was known to the law enforcement community.
Bertrand’s relatives yesterday called on state agencies to do better when it came to assisting victims of domestic violence, as they claimed she had visited several organisations in the past, begging for help.
Speaking with reporters at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, one woman said, “The State must do better by women who are victims of domestic violence because it is hard.”
