Relatives of two police officers, the victims of a tragic murder-suicide pact came together on Monday to offer support to each other.
PC Michael Youksee, 44, shot dead his former fiancé WPC Racquel Kipps, 27, before turning the gun on himself at their Mt D’or Road, Champs Fleurs home on Sunday.
The relatives were seen congregating outside of the main building at the Forensic Science Centre in St James as they waited for the autopsies to be done.
Kipps’ father, Roger, said that he was “trying to cope.”
The visibly emotional man said his daughter was well-loved by her colleagues and would be terribly missed. She was last assigned to the St Joseph Police Station.
Youksee’s brother, Peter, said he knew his brother as a “quiet” individual. He said he was shocked and saddened over the incident.
“They met about four years ago when he had joined the Police Service and got engaged about seven months ago. He was willing to change his life for her and settle down and get married,” Peter said.
“But, I get to understand after all this happened that about over a month ago both of them broke up because apparently, she was seeing someone else. They had plans on getting married next month but then things happened I guess…it real sad,” he added.
Kipps’ relatives, however, said Racquel was a victim of domestic abuse and had ended the relationship two months ago.
Yesterday, officials of the T&T Police Service (TTPS) Victim and Witness Support Unit were also on hand at the Forensic Science Centre offering counselling and support to relatives of both victims.