From all indications the couple was happily married with two children.

But relatives claimed yesterday Ronald Sukhlall was "a possessive and jealous husband."

"He went everywhere with his wife, even to the market. He would leave work just to go with her because he was jealous. They had normal family quarrels but this incident was a shock to everyone," said a relative yesterday.

Dead is Samantha Ganesh, 23, of Uitvlugt Pasture, West Coast Demerara.

According to Samantha's father, he was at a neighbour's house when he heard loud screams emanating from his house.

The visibly shaken man related that he ran to his house, only to see his daughter lying in a pool of blood by the front door.

She was immediately picked up and rushed to West Demerara regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The dead woman's father disclosed that prior to the incident his daughter had gone for a drive to Vreed-en-Hoop with her two sisters in his son-in-law's car.

On their return, about 7:00 pm, Samantha was sitting in the sofa near the kitchen when Ronald reportedly picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed his wife in the region of her heart. He reportedly soon after tried to stab their 1-year-old son, Randy.

The child only received a scratch on his back after his mother intervened.

Ganesh told the Guyana Chronicle that after the incident Ronald ran out of the house and said, "You all na know me yet, you will soon." He reportedly ran away to his parents' house, where he locked himself in the washroom and tried to end his life.

The chronicle understands that he was prevented from committing suicide by relatives, who suspected that something was amiss.

In the two and half years of his marriage to Samantha, the dead woman's relatives claim that Ronald was in the habit of abusing his wife, who was virtually confined to the home and her children.

Ronald Sukhlall, 23, a labourer of Uitvlugt Estate, had high hopes of moving into his new home at Corneldia Ida (a short distance away) with his wife and two children but something went terribly wrong.

His parents, Chandroutie and David Sukhlall at their Lot 12 Uitvlugt Pasture, West Coast Demerara yesterday were cradling their two grandchildren, Rentia, 2, and Randy, 1, they said that their son was a very quiet person who adored his family and could not say what could have triggered such behaviour which led to the tragedy.

A post mortem is scheduled for today.

Samantha Ganesh will be cremated according to Hindu rites at the Ruimzeigt Foreshore.

Samantha was described as a very simple, homey person who spends a lot of time with her children.

The couple was working assiduously to complete their house and they were living at Samantha's home at Lot 36, Uitvlugt Pasture, West Coast Demerara when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, the two families are still trying to come to grips with the sudden death of Samantha, yesterday her mother was unable to speak with the media, she could not contain the tears that flowed from her cheeks.