AN El Dorado woman is currently in police custody, assisting officers with their investigation into the stabbing death of a Diego Martin man, whose body was found at Manzanilla beach early yesterday morning.

Police said the woman reported to them that she stabbed Roland Akin, 52, of Jasper Avenue, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, after he attacked her with a knife.

However, police said they did not believe her version of what had transpired leading up to Akin's death.

According to officers, around 7.30 p.m. on Monday, the woman walked into the Arouca Police Station and reported the incident. Investigators said she told them she is a caterer who was owed $5,000 by Akin for catering services she had once provided for him.

She said on Monday morning, Akin contacted her and asked that she meet with him in Sangre Grande to collect the money. However, after the meeting, the woman told police Akin advised her that they needed to go to Manzanilla to get the money.

Police said the woman claimed that upon reaching Manzanilla, Akin took her to a house, where he pulled out a knife and tried to rape her.

"She said that he tried to rape her, but she managed to get a hold of the knife and stabbed him several times about the body, so the police went with her in Manzanilla, but she said she could not remember where the house was," police said.

Officers said they continued to search the area, and the woman later directed them to Mitan River along Manzanilla beach. Officers said when they went to the area around 1 a.m., they found Akin's body.

His hands and feet were tied and his mouth was gagged.

Police said he was stabbed multiple times about the upper body and his throat was slit.

Detectives said in addition to the stab wounds, Akin appeared to have been severely beaten.

"He had all type of bruises on his body, so we think that he was probably beaten and dragged as well," said officers.

Akin's killing has carried the country's murder toll for the year to 320, according to an Express tally.

Up to late yesterday evening, the woman was in the custody of homicide officers at the Arouca station.