Woman killed at Bartica Airstrip suffered years of abuse

Natoya Speede, the schoolteacher who was axed to death on Friday night at the Bartica Airstrip, was a victim of domestic abuse and had only ended her years-long marriage with her attacker several months ago.

Thirty-seven-year-old Speede, a resident of Lot 34 Sixth Avenue, Bartica, was murdered in front her children at around 7:30pm on Friday at Five Miles, BarticaPotaro Road.

She was rushed to the Bartica Hospital where she succumbed while receiving medical attention.

The suspect, her ex-husband identified as Orrin King, fled the scene and attempted to take his own life.

Sunday Stabroek was reliably informed that after searching for almost three hours, relatives and the police were able to locate King about half a mile away from where the incident occurred.

His body bore multiple wounds, which, he reportedly told investigators, were selfinflicted.

King is currently a patient at the Bartica Hospital under police guard. His condition is listed as critical.

The couple have two children, ages 11 and 17 years.

According to a police press release, investigations revealed that King took Speede and their two children to the airstrip under the pretext that they were going on a photo shoot.

Whilst there, he allegedly attacked Speede and inflicted several wounds about her body with an axe.

A relative of Speede, who wished to remain anonymous, told Sunday Stabroek yesterday that the family believes that the incident was premeditated.

The man said Speede was at home on Friday and the suspect kept calling. “He [King] kept calling and saying that he was coming to take them [Speede and the children] for a drive and that he was going to take them to do this photo shoot and when he got there, he just put his plan into action,” he said.

DEAD: Natoya Speede