By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A woman was stabbed to death by her Canadian husband and later killed himself inside their home at Villa Mikaela Subdivision in Bacolod City’s Barangay Singcang-Airport yesterday morning.

Police identified the wife as 47-year-old Liezel Demerin-St. Jean, a call center agent and a native of Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City; while the suspect was identified as 65-year-old Ronald St. Jean.

Based on statements from neighbors, at around 6:00 a.m. when Liezel had just gone home after work, they heard the couple loudly arguing.

The heated argument then turned to cries for help after St. Jean allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Liezel multiple times in the chest and neck.

Village chief Rosinie Distrito said the couple’s two children, aged seven and 11, managed to escape from the house.

Meanwhile, Liezel’s cousin, who was also inside the house, called for help from barangay officials and the police.

With barangay tanods and personnel from Police Station 8 responding, St. Jean went back inside the house and slit his wrist.

The suspect also stabbed himself in the chest.

The authorities tried to negotiate with St. Jean, but they were spattered with pepper spray.

St. Jean accidentally slipped from the pool of blood, which led responders to his arrest.

Police Captain Glenn Montaño, Station 8 commander, said the Canadian was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

It is believed that the argument between the couple stemmed from financial problems, Montaño said.

The victim’s cousin also told the police that during the argument, Liezel threatened to have St. Jean to be deported to Canada, which further infuriated the suspect.

This prompted him to burn his travel documents before he stabbed Liezel.

The couple has been residing in Bacolod for more than a year.

An investigation is ongoing./DGB, WDJ