Fearful of reprisal killings following the murder of State witness Kevin Ellis, some residents of Montgomery Street, Ste Madeleine, are begging to be placed in safe houses. Reports are that a 26-year-old woman and her two-year-old son were placed in the custody of officers from the Police Witness Protection Programme. However, residents said they would not rest comfortably until Homicide officers arrest suspects for the murders of Ellis and his best friend, Sean Baptiste. Baptiste, 25, was beaten to death last week Wednesday in the yard of his home as horrified neighbours, including Ellis, looked on.
Ellis later went to the police and made a report. Five days later, at around 7.45 pm on Monday, he was shot dead. Before his death, Ellis told the police he wanted them to arrest the two men who killed his friend. Baptiste, a construction worker, languished at the San Fernando General Hospital for six days before he was taken off life support on Tuesday night after doctors determined he was brain dead. At his family's home yesterday, his brother-in-law, Earle Charles, and neighbour Shalana Charles, said they are concerned that more people could be in danger. Earle said: "I did not see anything that happened. I was upstairs when everything happened but I am still afraid for my life. I am not going to run." He said everyone who had seen Baptiste's death were now afraid they too would be killed.
Meanwhile, Ellis' mother, Valerie, said she had no intention of going into hiding. She said Ellis and Baptiste were inseprable and it was tragic how their lives were snuffed out prematurely. She said Ellis was depressed after Baptiste was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state. Valerie added: "My son saw what happened to Sean. Sean bawl out for help and he kept hearing Sean's cries over and over in his head. "He was crying and he said he could not stop them from killing Sean. He said he didn't like what happened and that was why he went to the police."
She added that Baptiste and Ellis went to school together and even though they had their arguments, they always ended up back together. Funeral arrangements for the two men have not yet been finalised. However, Valerie said she hoped the friends would be buried on the same day. Police sources said they have launched a manhunt for four men. One of the suspects is believed to have fled the country.