Killed by her Husband: Natasha Cornet Had Previously Filed a Domestic Violence Complaint
Killed by her husband: Natasha Cornet had previously filed a complaint for domestic violence. A new domestic tragedy has shaken the country. Natasha (Vidushi) Cornet, 35, was found dead by the banks of the Canal Villebague river in Plaine-des-Papayes on Sunday afternoon. A victim of domestic violence, she was allegedly murdered by her husband, Aumanashing Cornet, 37. This man, already known to the police, was arrested on Monday by investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Pamplemousses. He allegedly attempted to take his own life with a sharp object before being admitted to the hospital. The victim's mother is demanding justice.
Married for seventeen years, Natasha and Aumanashing Cornet were parents to three children, the eldest being 17 years old. Recently, the couple had been going through a difficult period marked by repeated episodes of domestic violence.
On April 23, Natasha filed a complaint against her husband. In her statement, she recounted that an argument had erupted that day, during which Aumanashing grabbed a knife to threaten her. She had then taken refuge at her mother-in-law's house but was later hit again by her husband, this time with a cup. Following this incident, Natasha left the marital home to stay with her mother in Goodlands. On April 28, Aumanashing reported his wife's departure to the police.
However, according to the family, Natasha frequently moved back and forth between the marital home and her mother's house. "He was hitting my daughter. My daughter would come home; I told her to stay. She stayed for fifteen days and then went back. She said she had to leave for the children," recalls Veena Jootun, Natasha's mother, in tears.
According to her, her daughter was living a true marital hell. "My daughter works, he (her husband) doesn’t work, he controls her. He takes her money for himself. If my daughter refuses, she gets beaten," she continues, her voice breaking.
The tragedy unfolded on the afternoon of Sunday, October 27. According to information from the CID of Pamplemousses, led by Inspector Seepersand, Aumanashing Cornet allegedly drove his wife to an abandoned lot near the Canal Villebague river. An argument broke out between them. The man allegedly accused Natasha of being responsible for his troubles with the police, claiming she acted as an informant. During the altercation, he is said to have strangled her before abandoning her body on the riverbank.
After committing the act, the suspect called their 17-year-old son to confess. It was this son who then alerted his grandmother. "On Sunday, I was at home. Suddenly around four, my grandson called me, saying something had happened to my daughter," confides Veena Jootun. She immediately rushed to SSR Hospital in Pamplemousses, believing she would find her daughter injured. But it was already too late. "I need justice for my children," Veena Jootun sobs.
Accompanied by police officers, Natasha's son led them to the exact spot where his father claimed to have left the body. Investigators then made the grim discovery. The suspect's vehicle was found at the scene. The autopsy confirmed the victim died from neck compression. The suspect, still hospitalized, will be questioned as soon as he is deemed fit. He is expected to be charged with murder.
The Minister of Gender Equality Responds
Arianne Navarre-Marie, the Minister of Gender Equality, reacted to this second domestic tragedy in two weeks. She revealed that the victim had obtained a Protection Order last April, only to withdraw her request a month later. "Last April, her case was reported. She had obtained a Protection Order. There was mediation in the meantime, and shortly after, she returned to her husband and renounced that order," she explained. The minister called on victims of domestic violence: "Come to us. Inform us."
She also urged relatives of those facing such issues to contact the relevant authorities to prevent further tragedies from occurring.
