Murder, suicide by acid and fire By Angelo Laurence,
Freelance Writer
MANDEVILLE, Manchester: A 30-YEAR-OLD man poured acid down the throat of his three-year-old daughter, doused his wife with the corrosive substance and then killed himself in an inferno in Mandeville, Manchester yesterday morning. Young Nataki Louis of Dunrobin District, Mandeville, Manchester died after her father, Burt Louis, 30, in an apparent fit of rage, poured acid into her mouth. The child's mother, Lisa, 26, Director of Lascar Fencing, who was also extensively burnt by the acid was admitted to the Kingston Public Hospital in a critical condition. Initial reports that she had subsequently died were not confirmed at press time. Neighbours reported that they were drawn to the scene of a family dispute by the child's screams and the sound of household items being broken. According to the Mandeville Police, Lisa and her husband Burt, who is of Dominican descent, were heard arguing from as early as 6:00 a.m. but neighbours said they were slow in responding because loud disputes were "a daily routine" with the couple. The police said Louis, who was the manager of Lasmasa Janitorial Services in Mandeville, poured acid in the mouth of his three-year-old daughter after he had doused his wife all over her body as well as in her mouth with the substance. Louis is then reported to have set the house on fire despite attempts by neighbours to gain entry to the house. After two units from the Mandeville Fire Brigade put out the fire, Louis' body and that of his daughter were found in the rubble. His wife Lisa who managed to survive, was taken to the Mandeville Regional Hospital then transferred to KPH, suffering from acid burns over 50 per cent of her body. Louis had reportedly telephoned his father-in-law and advised him that he (Louis) was beating his "daughter" Lisa "again" and challenged him to do something about it. However, before Lisa's parents could reach her, Lewis had carried out the assault. Three persons who went to the family's rescue were also injured by acid and fire, requiring treatment at hospital.
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