The weekend killing spree continued with the deaths of two men in central and south Trinidad. The country's murder toll now stands at 225.In the first incident, Venice Chattergoon, 27, of Concerned Citizens Street, California, was stabbed 28 times in his neighbour's apartment after an altercation on Saturday night.According to a female neighbour, Chattergoon and another tenant were "making a cook" and drinking alcohol around 11.45 pm.
"They lived next door to each other. I saw Venice drinking and then the other man came and they began to lime and cook. I left and went to bed," she said.The witness, who did not want to be identified, was awakened by a loud argument between the two men around midnight.Chattergoon attempted to hit his neighbour with a belt during the argument. The neighbour managed to return to his apartment but Chattergoon followed him.
Chattergoon, a backhoe operator, continuously banged on the suspect's door, demanding that he come out and resume the drinking session.According to the neighbour, the suspect opened his door, pulled Chattergoon inside and proceeded to stab him in the chest and arms.She said Chattergoon could be heard shouting "No man!" repeatedly, begging his neighbour to stop the attack.The suspect then ran off and officers assigned to the Central Division are searching for the suspect.
Chattergoon's relatives have appealed to the police to find the killer, as they called for justice for their slain relative.Chattergoon's father, Chanardath, who lives in Couva, said Venice was the first of his ten children and had moved into his California apartment three months ago.Chanardath, 52, said his son was hard-working and enjoyed cooking but had an alcohol problem.In another incident, Shakeel Bethel, 19, of Stella Street, La Romaine, died from two gunshot wounds to the chest early yesterday.
According to reports, Bethel went to the Southern Edge Nightclub, La Romaine, on Saturday night, where he got into an argument with another patron. Bethel left and went to the G Spot bar on Cipero Street and was standing outside when a masked man shot him twice in the chest at close range. The assailant then escaped in a white wagon.Bethel was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital but died during emergency surgery.
Bethel lived with Peggy Bethel, his aunt, who said Shakeel was her eldest nephew and was never involved in criminal activities. She said he loved to party and never caused trouble in his community."We supported him in everything he did," said Peggy, who was shaken by her nephew's death.Shakeel was unemployed, but previously worked for KFC while he was at school, Peggy said.There are no leads in the shooting and the Southern Homicide Division is investigating.
The two killings added to a bloody weekend which had seen seven other people killed over a 72-hour period. On Friday night, Shawn Duncan, 28; Michael Fox, 28; Jamal Fox, 21; Shaquille Bishop, 21 and Ganesh Ramroop, 44, were all shot to death in incidents across the country. Two charred bodies were also discovered in Claxton Bay around 11 am on Saturday.