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It could be a while before Port Kaituma father faces court – police F Div. official
Police say that they are patiently awaiting the discharge from hospital of Lenus La Cruz, to have him answer murder charges.
La Cruz, who set fire to his house at Port Kaituma last Friday night, resulting in the deaths of his wife and three of his children, was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Tuesday, nursing severe burns to his hands, feet and
LENUS LA CRUZ
other body parts.
An official from the F Division, under which the Port Kaituma District falls, told this newspaper that while a file on the matter is almost complete, investigators will have to wait until La Cruz is discharged from hospital before instituting the charges.
La Cruz is likely to face four counts of murder.
It is alleged that the man doused his heavily-grilled home at Port Kaituma with petrol on Friday night before setting it alight with his wife, Lurlene La Cruz, 39, their daughters, Lea La Cruz, 14; Lavette LaCruz; sons Labron LaCruz, eight, and one-year-old Levon LaCruz inside.
From reports received by Kaieteur News, last Friday night’s tragedy started when the 50-year old businessman, who was under the influence of alcohol, began to scream and curse while claiming that persons owed him money.
Kaieteur News was told that his wife, Lurlene McTurk-LaCruz, was in the habit of securing herself and children in a bedroom whenever Mr. La Cruz was in one of his drunken rages.
On Friday night, she reportedly again locked herself and her five children, including Lisa La Cruz, in the bedroom.
It is alleged that Mr. La Cruz went out of the building and switched his generator on and off. He then returned inside and began to bang on the bedroom door and demand that his wife open it.
When she refused, he allegedly shouted, “I going for the gas.”
Kaieteur News was told that Mr. La Cruz had made previous threats to burn his house down, but because he had never carried them out, the family apparently did not take his threats seriously.
However, this time, the businessman reportedly began pouring fuel into the bedroom via a barred window.
A relative told Kaieteur News that it was then that Mrs. La Cruz instructed her 12-year-old daughter to go to the Port Kaituma Police Station and the child then fled from the building.
However, her report was treated with no urgency by the rank on duty.
The child returned home but by then the building was on fire. She reportedly then alerted other residents who tried in vain to douse the flames and free the victims from the heavily-grilled building.
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