The killings continued unabated yesterday as homicide officers added the deaths of three people in separate incidents in Laventille, Arima and Gonzales to their mounting statistics. A total of 12 people were killed between Good Friday and yesterday. The latest victims are: Keion Phillip, 28, of Trou Macaque, Laventille, who was killed at Village Council Road in Laventille.
An unidentified woman whose body was found in a garden at Buena Vista in Arima. And Murchurie Polo, 23, of Upper Gonzales, Belmont, who was discovered dead outside an abandoned house in the district. The murder toll stood at 103 up to late yesterday evening.
A report said around 6 am, residents heard loud explosions at Village Council Road. Eyewitnesses told police that Phillip was made to kneel on the ground and executed by gunmen. In the second incident, around 6 am, a farmer was on his way to tie cattle in his Arima garden when he stumbled upon the body of a woman. He immediately called the police.
Investigators said the body bore chop wounds to the neck. In Belmont, at around 2 pm, residents heard explosions and later found Polo's body lying in a yard. Detectives said Polo's attackers placed his hands across his heart after shooting him. In an interview at the crime scene, one of Polo's friends said he "was not in any gang thing."
On Monday evening two men were killed in what is believed to be a reprisal for the murder of receptionist Anastacia Emmanuel. Jamal Jack, a CEPEP worker and Joel Mayers, 59, a gardener, were gunned down hours after Emmanuel was shot multiple times as she drove her car.
Emmanuel was killed mere feet away from her home at Yolande Pompey Avenue in La Horquetta on Sunday. Jack, of Ladybird Avenue, La Horquetta, was shot dead in his bedroom and Mayers of John Buddy Williams Crescent, Phase Six, was killed in his living room.
A report said around 2.30 pm, Jack was in his bedroom when several gunmen stormed the house and shot him numerous times. He was taken to the Arima Health Facility, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His relatives said Emmanuel and Jack were childhood friends.
In an interview at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, a relative said: "They went to primary and secondary school together. He wasn't responsible for her death at all." Detectives believe Mayers was not the target but another relative. Meanwhile, the relatives of Shane Pierre said his being a "peacemaker" caused his death. Pierre, 30, of Guaico Tamana Road, Sangre Grande, was stabbed to death near his home on Easter Monday morning.
"He went down the road to see what was going on. He always made peace and was known to be a peacemaker," his father, Anthony Brusco said. He said his son was stabbed 20 times with a piece of steel that was lying on the side of the road. His brother, Sherland Brusco, attempted to stop the motorists who attacked him.
"He (Sherland) told me that he tried to help him but couldn't make," Brusco said. Homicide officers are continuing investigations.
The victims over the Easter weekend were:
• April 6, Dwayne Hill, 32, of Valencia Plantation was stabbed to death at Alexis Crescent in Valencia.
• April 6, Wesley Morrison, 39, of Lopinot Road was stabbed to death in Arouca.
• April 8, Derrick John, 51, of Maloney was killed at Trou Macaque in Laventille.
• April 7, Rawle George, 33 a machine operator and father of seven of Chinapoo Village, Morvant, was shot dead in Morvant.
• April 8, Anastacia Emmanuel, 26, of Yolande Pompey Avenue, La Horquetta was shot dead near her home.
• April 9, Shane Pierre, 30, of Guaico Tamana Road, Sangre Grande was stabbed to death near his house.
• April 9, Aaliyah Johnson, was killed at her Maria David Trace home, San Francique.
• April 9, Jamal Jack, a CEPEP worker, of Ladybird Avenue, La Horquetta was shot dead in his home.
• April 9, Joel Mayers, 59, a gardener, of John Buddy Williams Crescent, Phase Six was killed in his living room.
• April 10, Keion Phillip, 28, a father of five, of Trou Macaque was shot dead at Village Council Road, Laventille.
• April 10, a decomposed body at Buena Vista, Arima was found.
• April 10, Murcherie Polo, 23, of Upper Gonzales, was found at Augustine Trace, Gonzales.
