After chopping uncle... Woman cuts throat in suicide attempt

A woman was admitted to hospital under police guard after she chopped her disabled uncle, and then attempted to take her own life.

The high drama occurred at their home in St Thomas on Tuesday, police said.

The woman, whose name has not been released, reportedly suffers from a mental illness, and is said to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Reports reaching THE STAR are that about 2:30 p.m., an argument occurred between the woman and her uncle, who is deaf and physically handicapped. During the argument, the police said a machete was used to chop the uncle on his head.

Family members who witnessed the attack quickly intervened, but the woman ran into a room in the house and locked the door. There she used the machete to cut her throat. Family members managed to get into the room and called the police.

Both the woman and her uncle were taken to hospital where she was admitted and the uncle treated and released.