Nalini De Agrella and her husband, Leroy De Agrella, in happier times
According to reports, 40-year-old Nalini De Agrella allegedly plunged into the Demerara River from the Retractor Span of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, on Tuesday morning at around 01: 30 hrs, following an argument with her husband, Leroy De Agrella. He also was injured when he plunged into the river in a bid to rescue her.
The body of the mother of five, of Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara, was retrieved from the Demerara River later on Tuesday. Her husband was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre for treatment after reportedly ingesting the salty water of the Demerara River in his bid to rescue his wife. He is, however, under police guard.
Police sources say there is still some suspicion surrounding the case, and they note that a more thorough investigation will have to be conducted.
Initial police investigations revealed that the De Agrellas are reported to have had an argument while crossing the harbour bridge in their motor vehicle, and the woman requested that her husband stop the vehicle so she could urinate. She then jumped off the bridge into the river.
Guyana Times International understands that the man reportedly told investigators, as well as relatives, that while he was waiting in the car for his wife to return, another driver alerted him that someone had jumped off the bridge.
The man’s relatives expressed shock at the incident, recalling that it was only on Monday afternoon that the dead woman had appeared happy. They said that she even told them that her husband had bought her a Valentine’s gift.
The couple, relatives say, had been married for more than 22 years. This newspaper was unable to speak with any of the dead woman’s relatives, since her eldest daughter was away in the interior, while her father had suffered a stroke sometime ago, and is unable to speak due to his illness.
This newspaper was also told that the woman had suffered bouts of Post Partum Depression – a major depressive episode that occurs after a woman has given birth.
Depressive symptoms usually begin within four weeks of giving birth, and can vary in intensity and duration. This type of depression can cause women to have suicidal thoughts.
The woman’s youngest child is seven years old. It is unclear whether she was still suffering from the disorder up to the time of the alleged incident. Her body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination.
