Incensed after being refused a cigarette, a mental out-patient snatched a concrete brick and bludgeoned a Ste Madeleine watchman to death on Sunday.
Richard Soondar, 43, of Pharoah Avenue, Ste Madeleine, died on the spot after being hit multiple times with the brick outside Rickice Corner Bar at Naparima Mayaro Road, Ste Madeleine.
A witness, who requested anonymity, said the suspect was “walking up and down the street” before he asked Soondar for a cigarette. As Soondar walked off the man grabbed the brick and hit him hard on the head. Soondar fell to the ground and started to get up but the man whacked him another blow.
“Blood started to pour from his eyes, nose and ear. He never got up again,” the witness said.
PC’s Pierre and Farrow from the Ste Madeleine Police Station arrived on the scene and arrested the suspect. They also seized the bloody brick.
Soondar worked as a watchman for a street seller near his home. His niece Jassodra Boodhan said he has an 18-year-old son Sayed who always checked on him.
“I took care of Sayed since he was five and despite everything, he always looks out for his father. He loved him. I don’t know how I will face that child again. I don’t know how he will deal with this,” Jassodra cried.
Niece Seeta Soondar said Richard worked hard during the week and on weekends he would come to the bar to lime.
“He never interferes with anyone. Why that man do that to him?” she wailed. She demanded to know why a mentally ill man was roaming the street.
“Why he didn’t go to St Ann’s? Why he outside? They have mental hospitals for people like that,” she said.
Police said the suspect is 38-years-old. A file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions before police are advised on possible charges. Homicide officers are continuing investigations.
Soondar’s killing and three others in Curepe, Valencia and Golconda took the murder count for the year to 465.