Two members of Parliament from the Government and Opposition have joined the family of murdered physician, Dr Sinanan Lutchman, 79, for answers on the status of his murder investigation.
The calls came at an Interfaith Service and Peace Walk Against Crime held in Dr Lutchman’s memory Saturday night.
Dr Lutchman was shot and killed at his Paul Street office on August 17, 2018.
No one has as yet been held for his murder.
Member of Parliament for Cumuto/Manzanilla Christine Newallo Hosein and Member of Parliament for Toco/Sangre Grande Glenda Jennings-Smith, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, put aside their political affiliations to team up at the candle-lit march along the streets of Sangre Grande.
Relatives of Dr Lutchman are questioning why no one has yet been arrested.
They said that one year has passed without anything being said to them by the police on the investigation and called on Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith to look into the investigation.
They told Guardian Media that the police have failed them and they believe that this may be a case of a murder that has been “swept under the carpet”, in spite of police having relevant information on the murder.
Guardian Media contacted the Arouca Police Station and sought to get an update on the case. However, we were told that the investigating officer on that matter, Inspector Lawrence, had retired and no one was available to give further information. No information was given on who took over the case.
Christ Lutchman, son of Dr Lutchman told Guardian Media that he keeps visiting the Arouca Homicide Bureau to get a follow-up on his father’s gruesome death and all investigators are telling him is that the investigation is continuing.
The distraught son said this is not good enough as he has given statements to the police that he believed could have led to arrests.
He said he grieves every day when he looks at his father’s picture, a memory he says that will never vanish from him as long as he lives.
He recalled his father calling him an hour before his death to purchase some grapes for him, which he did.
About an hour later, while at his Sangre Chiquito home, he received news by cellphone that his father was shot and was taken to the Sangre Grande Hospital.
On his arrival, he learned that his father had succumbed to his injuries.
“I screamed, saying why someone will want to kill a man, who was serving people in the community to ensure their health, with money or no money,” Lutchman said.
Cynthia Lutchman, his married wife cried on Saturday night as she also said there was no justice the killing.
“It is one year since my husband—my husband because we never got divorced—and no arrest yet,” she said, as she broke down in tears.
She added: “I cannot understand and is puzzled as to why the police have not made any arrest and never gave us any follow up in the case. Has this case been closed?”
Newallo-Hosein described Dr Lutchman as a family doctor, who was not interested in money, but in the lives of people.
Jennings-Smith, in her address, said Dr Lutchman was their family doctor and she said she is still confused as to why someone will want to kill “a devoted and dedicated medical doctor who was liked by all patients.”