AS if she knew her life would be taken by the man who tormented her for almost 13 years, murdered Shanti Sewlal bought an early birthday present for her stroke-stricken mother, relatives said yesterday.

Sewlal, who was stabbed to death on Monday, delivered the present—a murti of the Hindu god Shiva—to her mother a month early. The card read "Happy 60th Birthday Mummy".

Sewlal's mother, Rowtie Sookram, told the Express, "My birthday is on October 18, but she gave me the gift last month. She said she might not be around for my birthday. She came home one day and asked her father to take her to the grocery, but she didn't buy anything except the murti. She wrapped it and put a card and gave it to me."

Sewlal had just stepped out of the shower at the family home at Esmeralda Branch Road, Corosal, Williamsville, when she was confronted and stabbed by a male relative on Monday evening.

The killing was witnessed by two young relatives.

The killer ran into the bushes and escaped. Police continued the search for him yesterday.

Sewlal's sister, Shaira Kissoondath, said the family has been uneasy since the killing.

"We are all afraid that he will return and hurt us or even the children. Last night a cat was walking on the roof and the children started to cry," she said.

Sookram pleaded with the killer to surrender to police.

"You know you kill her, well give yourself up to police now. And I want to tell the police to continue the investigations because I want justice for my child's death," she said.

Sookram said her daughter never told her about the verbal and physical abuse she endured.

"She didn't tell me anything because she knew I had the stroke and I will worry. She take all of that abuse alone. She went through so much trouble," she said.

Sewlal, who was granted two protection orders against the suspect, was buried at Whiteland Public Cemetery on Thursday.