National Security Minister John Sandy and acting Police Commissioner James Philbert yesterday paid their respects to the family of slain police officer Eric John.
John, 27, was killed on Saturday morning when he stopped a man from urinating at the side of the Arima market. The family was greeted by Sandy and Philbert while they waited for John's autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park. "We just offered condolences. What can you tell somebody when they lose a child? At this time, they need support. You can never find the words to say.
"We (and Sandy) were present and it touched all of us. In a time of grief we are with her," Philbert said. He said funeral arrangements would be finalised by tomorrow. Philbert said preliminary investigations revealed that John was killed when he told a man who had been urinating at the roadside to move.
"He told him and the man drew a gun. That is what the average officer does but they do not expect the man to draw a firearm. It tells you how the environment can be," Philbert said. Western Division police officers praised John as an officer who was assigned to Carenage Police Station. They said he had made several arrests in the past without a gun. John's father, Wycliff Gabriel, said he took a lot of pride in his work as a officer. Gabriel said: "He always took pride in his work. People said he was a diligent officer." He said he believed there was hope for the youths and families in the community. "I still believe there is hope for the communities and something could be worked out,"Gabriel said.
He said the Devil was prevalent in society and the police had a lot of work. Relatives of Wendell Daniel, who was the main suspect in John's shooting, said he had served several years in prison over the years. Daniel, 38, was killed several hours later in a shoot-out with police in Cumuto. In a brief interview at the Forensic Science Centre yesterday, one of his relatives said Daniel had been at the Youth Training Centre since he was 16.
"He was in there for robbery and breaking and entering. All kind of people speak to him. He wanted to have his own way. He had plenty opportunities but kept bad company," the relative said. She said Daniel had won Calypso King three times behind bars. "He was not always like that. He used to be good, kind and loving," said the relative. Daniel was released from prison in February this year.