NINE years of a tumultuous relationship ended yesterday with the stabbing of a 31-year-old mother of three, Dianne Baptiste, by her husband, Michael Isaac.

The incident took place at the couple’s Columbus Street, Arima, home, around 8 a.m.

As if read from a domestic violence prevention handbook, Baptiste’s relatives described to the Sunday Express various signs that indicated that all was not well between Baptiste and Isaac.

Isaac tried to restrict Baptiste’s movements, sometimes banned her from speaking to relatives and was almost always suspicious of whoever she had dealings with.

Baptiste’s three teenage children from a previous relationship did not live with the couple.

According to police, who responded to calls from the couple’s concerned neighbours, a heated argument took place between Baptiste and Isaac at their Arima home that morning.

The neighbours reportedly took note but didn’t intervene.

It was when Baptiste was seen staggering out of the house, blood pouring from wounds to her chest, that they got involved.

Some called the Arima police as well as an ambulance while others went to render assistance to the screaming woman.

Moments later, Issac was seen walking out the house, drinking something from a bottle which was assumed to be a poisonous substance.

Both the ambulance and the police arrived and the two were placed into separate ambulances to be taken to the Arima District Health Facility.

They both died en route to the hospital.

The Sunday Express sought out the relatives of Baptiste yesterday afternoon at their homes in Brazil Village, Arima.

Amid grey, ominous looking clouds, one of Baptiste’s closest friend’s described the woman’s last conversation with her which took place around noon on Friday.

’I know that she wasn’t happy with him. And it is not the first time she left,’ she said. She was looking for a place to rent to be by herself but he kept calling her, telling her to come back with him.’