Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth – The St Elizabeth police have launched an investigation into circumstances which led to the knife-slaying of a woman and her common-law husband battling for life in hospital with slash wounds to the throat.

The police suspect murder and attempted suicide.

Dead is 51-year-old Rosemarie Blackwood, a former teacher and an insurance agent, of Glenco Housing Scheme, Santa Cruz. Admitted in the Black River hospital under police guard, in serious condition, is Christopher Richards, 45, who is said to be an employee at the Westmoreland Parish Library.

The word from police locally is that the two had an argument at the home of the deceased on Friday. The argument reportedly continued on Saturday and escalated into a fight. It is alleged that a knife was used to slash the throat of the deceased as well as the injured man.

The Constabulary Communications Network (CCN) reports that when police reached the scene, they found Miss Blackwood lying on the floor with stab wounds and her common-law husband on a bed with his throat slashed. A ‘ratchet’ knife was found beside him. They were taken to the hospital where Blackwood was pronounced dead and the man admitted in serious condition.

– Michael McLean