Excavator operator charged with reputed wife’s murder

Oct 24, 2023 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Kaieteur News – Cornel Henry, an excavator operator, was on Thursday charged with murder and remanded to prison.

Remanded: Cornel Henry

Henry is accused of murdering his reputed wife Christina Holder at Princeville Backdam, Region Eight.

Forty-one-year-old Henry of Lot 34 De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara (WCD) made his first court appearance at the Mahdia Magistrates’ Court before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce where the charge was read to him.

He was not required to plead to the charge which alleges that on October 16, 2023 at Princeville Backdam, he murdered 42-year-old Holder.

Henry was remanded to prison and is expected to return to court on January 15, 2024.

It was reported that Holder, a mother of three, was stabbed about her body in the wee hours of October 16, by Henry who she had reportedly accused of being unfaithful. Holder was a cook in the backdam at the time of her death.

According to the police, Henry and Holder were in a relationship for the past 12 years and on the night of October 15, the two were at their camp imbibing ‘high wine’ with Coca-Cola and water while playing cards.

Dead: Christina Holder

Police said, a dredge worker reported to them that about 02:00hrs the following day, he was awoken by a noise coming from the couple’s camp. The worker said the couple was heard arguing with each other during which a crashing sound was heard. Thereafter, Holder was heard screaming for help.

The dredge worker said that he immediately ran to the couple’s camp and saw the woman naked with several stab wounds about her body, including her face and arms. While there, he said he also saw the suspect with blood about his body.

At about 04:45hrs, detectives visited the crime scene and found a nude Holder lying motionless on her back with multiple stab wounds to her body, face and arms. Her body was then taken to the Mahdia District Hospital’s mortuary, where a post-mortem examination was conducted.

Henry was contacted by police and told of the allegation and he replied, “She accused me of f*#*king a Spanish girl.” The suspect was arrested and subsequently an investigation was launched.