Den Amstel hatchet-wielding killer found badly wounded

- had attempted suicide

By Dale Andrews and Tusika Martin

The 34-year-old Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara carpenter who hacked his wife to death last Thursday night is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital after failing in his attempt to take his own life yesterday.

Dwain Jordan was discovered in a clump of bushes in an empty plot of land in the village at around 15:45 hours yesterday, bleeding profusely from several gaping wounds about his body.

Eyewitnesses said that one of his wounds was so huge that his intestines were protruding. There was also a deep cut at the back of one of his ankles.

Neighbours said that they learnt that the badly wounded Jordan was lying in the grass only when he called out for help.

Jordan went into hiding last Thursday night shortly after killing his reputed wife, Claudine Rampersaud, 30, and seriously wounding her sister, Shellon Payne, and Payne's boyfriend, Ryan Lewis.

The neighbours could not say for how long Jordan was in the empty lot, but they were almost certain that he did not seek refuge there on the night of the chopping spree.

Police had launched a manhunt for Jordan, and there were even rumours that he had been spotted on Friday.

Kaieteur News understands that Jordan had contacted relatives and had informed them that he would kill himself rather than face the consequences of his actions.

One neighbour told Kaieteur News yesterday that she saw Jordan lying in the bush with his stomach protruding.

“He was trying to get help. He couldn't walk, maybe he was crawling. Somebody heard him groaning and they called the police,” the neighbour said.

The police collected the badly injured man and took him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, from where he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

A senior police official told this newspaper that some of the wounds on Jordan's body were inflicted before yesterday.

He suggested that Jordan might have sustained some of the wounds during the scuffle he had with the persons he attacked on Thursday night.

However, relatives of the dead woman refuted this, claiming that it was only Jordan who was armed.

“If he de get wound then, you would'a see bloodstains leading from the house,” Shauda Payne told this newspaper.

Jordan's father, Clifton Jordan, said that he did not know that his son was lying wounded in the empty lot which is situated next to his.

“People tell me that my son was over there, but I did not go. A woman pass and ask me why I ain't going and see my son, but I didn't even answer she. The police come and that is when I went over,” Clifton Jordan said.

He recalled that his son had visited him on Wednesday morning to repair the roof of his toilet.

“He looked worried, like he face swell, but I didn't ask he nothing. I don't mingle in people affairs,” the wounded man's father told Kaieteur News.

He said that he realised something was wrong between his son and his reputed wife when she stopped greeting him whenever they passed each other about three months ago.

Jordan said that he learnt that when his son had complained to his reputed wife's parents about his suspicions of her outside affair, he did not get a favourable response.

Over at the home of the dead woman's relatives, a number of villagers who had gathered there expressed relief that Jordan is now in custody, none moreso that Shellon Payne, who up to yesterday was still seeking treatment for a gaping wound on her face.

They were, however, peeved that Jordan showed no remorse when they looked into his face.

“He smiling at me but he ain't saying nothing. He call out fuh he cousin. I de want he fuh punish before he dead,” Shauda Payne recalled.

Another sister, Sharmaine, told Kaieteur News that when she arrived at the empty lot, Jordan was lying in the grass with handcuffs on.

The dead woman's relatives described the relationship between the couple as a very abusive one.

They could not say why Claudine Rampersaud did not report the abuse despite the fact that she was a member of the Guyana Police Force.

According to Shauda Payne, Jordan had previously walked out on her sister when their first child was born, and had married another woman in Essequibo.

“He come back and say dat de woman wukkin' obeah pon he and he de sick, sick. Claudine tek he and carry he by she uncle in Parika and nurse he back to health, and then mek three more children fuh he,” Payne said.

She explained that on another occasion, the couple had separated and Jordan had begged Rampersaud to make up, promising to marry her.

Payne said that her sister had told her Jordan had attempted to carry her in the yard where she was murdered on several other occasions.

On Thursday night, Rampersaud had attended an insurance meeting, which Jordan had knowledge of, and had returned home a little later than usual.

That was when she was attacked and chopped to death.

Her brother, Troy Rampersaud, said that he had seen Jordan sharpening a knife earlier that afternoon, but he did not think that Jordan was preparing to kill his sister.

Last Thursday's incident was a shocking reminder of a similar incident in the village four years ago, when a man hammered his wife to death.

Meanwhile, police say they will await word on Jordan's condition before instituting charges.

He remains under close watch at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Sunday 06-17-2007