Zenita Nicolson ingested pesticide – PM examination

A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of 37-year-old Rights Activist Zenita Nicolson, revealed that she died of pesticide poisoning. The post-mortem examination was conducted on Wednesday by State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that the cause of death was given as ingestion of pesticides. This, he explained, is consistent with the information that the Police have gathered during their investigations – that the woman had consumed carbon tablets, which are used to kill rats.

In addition, Blanhum disclosed that some of Nicolson’s stomach content was handed over to the Police by the Pathologist for a toxicology test to be conducted.

Nicolson was rushed to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital on Monday morning around 02:00h after she reportedly admitted to ingesting 10 carbon tablets. She passed several hours later in the day. It has been reported that Nicolson was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her partner, an overseas-based student of Texila University.

Her death has raised questions since the woman was an ardent activist on various human rights matters including gender-based violence. Persons have even questioned whether the woman drank the tablets freely or was forced to do so.

On Tuesday, the Crime Chief told Guyana Times International that the Police is treating the activist’s death as a suicide, since there was no evidence to suggest otherwise. He further stated that on Monday, investigators found seven letters along with a note purportedly written by Nicolson.

The letters were addressed to various family members, while the note was for her partner with instructions to distribute the letters. Guyana Times International understands that Nicolson reportedly indicated in the letters that she cannot cope anymore with the “suffering”.

However, Blanhum had pointed out that should anything suspicious show up in the post-mortem examination, then the Police would take the appropriate action. But nothing of the sort was found.

According to reports, Nicolson’s 29-year-old Mauritian partner had accompanied the woman to the Hospital and had stated that he was unsure of what happened since he would have retired to bed earlier in the evening, leaving the woman to work.

However, Nicolson’s long-time friend and Executive Member of the Society of Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, related to this newspaper that up to mid last week, the couple had separated. He recalled that on October 19, the 37-year-old mother of two confided in him that she was being abused by her partner.

Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for the late rights activist are yet to be made as the woman’s family is expected to arrive in Guyana today (Thursday).