When workmen arrived at the home of a Northdale widow on Wednesday at 8am to carry out renovations, they were surprised when she did not answer or open the door, as she normally did.
One of the contractors, who told police he had spoken to Venotha Ince at about 7am on the phone, became worried and called a neighbour, who allowed a worker to jump over the boundary wall of Ince’s cottage, at Egret Road, Mount View, to check.
To his horror he found the widow, who lived alone, slumped on her blood-stained bed.
The 51-year-old’s slippers were still on her bed and there was a pool of blood at the doorway to her bedroom.
It seems as though she put up a life-and-death fight against her attacker or attackers.
The neighbour, who did not want to be named, was critical of the police, who he said only responded to their call after two hours, together with an ambulance.
“Venotha, was a pleasant and soft-spoken woman,” he said.
Her husband died about eight months ago, and the couple did not have any children.
She worked at Bradlows until December last year and lived alone in the cottage.
Neighbours did not hear her scream or shout for help.
Barely 500m away in Tensen Street, a Mrs Freddie Muruvan was murdered a few years ago.
Her throat was slit, allegedly after an altercation with a casual worker.
The murder has not been solved to date.
Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Joey Jeevan confirmed Ince had suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest.
Her car was still in the carport.
Jeevan said her cellphone and a bag were missing. There was no sign of forced entry.
A neighbour told the Daily News he spotted a key and a remote control gate for the cottage lying in the yard.
Police are appealing to anyone with information to call Warrant Officer Ashok Baldawu on 083 776 3206 or Captain Pipes Haffajee on 079 500 0264. Information can be supplied anonymously by calling Crime Stop toll free at 08600 10111. - Daily News
