2 dead in murder-suicide

MANILA, Philippines — A 23-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her supposed lover, who hanged himself in their rented apartment in Barangay East Kamias, Quezon City over the weekend, police said yesterday.

Maria Jamille Salve Tan’s body, riddled with stab wounds, was found underneath her bed while August Songcuan, 51, was suspended from the bathroom door by a bag strap looped around his neck.

Their bodies were found at past 10 p.m. Sunday by Tan’s relatives, who forced open the apartment door after they failed to contact her since Sunday morning.

Chief Inspector Elmer Monsalve, head of the city police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said they believe the incident was a crime of passion.

Recovered at the crime scene was a bloodied kitchen knife.