Less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar assured that crime will be reduced, the country was marred yesterday by four murders, which took place within a 90-minute period. New Year's day was also marred by two road deaths and a suicide of a young man. The murders occurred three days after Persad-Bissessar received a comprehensive outline to be adopted this year in the ongoing battle on crime, as "we implement a three-pronged attack on crime." The three-pronged approach, Persad-Bissessar said in her address to the nation on Old Year's night, focuses on prevention, detection and conviction. The first body fell seven minutes after the country heralded the New Year. Dead is Jason Ricardo King of Dow Village California, a labourer and coconut vendor. King was liming with a group of friends in front of his house when a man pulled up with a white station wagon and reportedly had an altercation with him.
The assailant returned shortly after and fired several shots at King who collapsed on the ground. His body was taken to the mortuary at the San Fernando General Hospital. Up to late yesterday police were still in the process of gathering evidence. Homicide South is investigating. In Sangre Grande yesterday, fire officers were trying to determine if a Molotov cocktail led to the death of 61-year-old, Ella Dial. The fire occurred around 12.45am at Cunaripo Southern Main Road, Coal Mine, Sangre Grande. Reports stated that Dial's common-law husband, Renwick Seepaul, 63, who lives next door awoke to a loud noise. Upon checking, Seepaul discovered Dial's wooden house which had no electricity, engulfed in flames. The fire eventually spread to Seepaul's home but with the help of neighbours the blaze was extinguished.
Dial's charred remains were discovered in the ruins. Cpl Greaux is investigating. Thirty minutes later, Anthony Charles, 27, was liming in his yard in Straker Village, Laventille when four men approached and opened fire, causing villagers and Charles to scamper. Charles, who ran inside his house, was pursued by the gunmen who shot him multiple times. Charles died at the scene. Rudolph Oliviere, 80, lost his life around 1.30am on 24th Street, in Beetham Gardens. Reports stated that the pensioner who was beaten on Friday during a robbery was discovered by his daughter, lying in a pool of blood in his home. He was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Oliviere was last seen alive on Friday.