Rookmin Sharma and her family are today left ruing the fact Rookmin's only son and first child, Neil Sharma, was killed in a lovers' quarrel. The signs of trouble had been there for a long time and they had warned them to separate.Sharma's girlfriend, now in police custody, stabbed the 46-year-old in the chest at his home at Bamboo Settlement #1.
According to police reports, earlier in the day, Sharma and his 33-year-old girlfriend were seen drinking before they went home.Around 11 pm, the two were heard arguing before there was quiet. When his relatives checked, Sharma was found with a stab wound to the left side of the chest. He died before help could arrive.
Relatives claimed Sharma and the woman had a difficult relationship. Speaking with the T&T Guardian at the family's home yesterday, his sister, Usha, said they had violent fights twice in three years. She added the duo were happy at times but they fought often.
His mother added: "I used to tell her that if she can't make a living with him best she leave and she used to tell me she will not leave him. I used to talk to both of them but they never used to listen.
"My advice to people in that type of relationship that always fighting and quarreling is better allyuh separate."
At the Forensic Science Centre, St James, Sharma's two sons – Narine and Nicholas – said he was sometimes scared things could go badly.
"It had a time he come by we and didn't want to go home because he say she sleeping with a knife under the pillow and he frighten to go home," the brothers recalled.
Meanwhile, the woman's attorney, Fareed Ali, said claims she was a threat to him were overblown. Ali said the judicial system was failing the weakest of society, namely women and children.
In a text message response to the T&T Guardian yesterday Ali said Sharma had been brought before the court on related domestic violence charges. He asked what effective steps were being taken to assist women who were the victims of domestic violence.
"Very often when men are brought to answer to the court for their alleged actions and the matter isn't fully litigated or resolved what transpires are unfortunate instances like the one that is being investigated now.
"The responsibility of the State is to look after its weakest citizens. The mothers of our nation are put at risk every day and survive at the behest of abusive partners. Until more is done to protect women and children the judicial system continues to fail to fulfil its mandate to our citizenry," Ali added.
Relatives of Sharma, who they affectionately called "Sugars", said he would be missed, especially for his caring and giving personality. They added that Sharma would most likely be buried tomorrow.