Martin Julien, 44, was excited of meeting his first born grandchild and couldn’t have waited for morning to clear yesterday so that he could go to the hospital to hold his only daughter’s new baby.
However, unfortunately he was killed on Sunday night shortly arriving at his home in Morvant.
Julien was not only a taxi driver but a well-known bass guitarist over the years who played for several soca artistes and soca and reggae bands.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, Julien’s nephew, who did not give his name, denied reports which stated that his uncle’s killing was gang-related.
“I can tell you that all my uncle ever spoke about was his music and singing because he sang too. He was never involved in any gang or gang affiliate, nothing. We are shocked as to why he was killed,” Julien’s nephew said.
“All we know is that whoever it was they were waiting for him to come home because as he pulled up in his car and was taking out bags from it someone came and shot him multiple times. Maybe, because over small talk or a bad drive or envy but we may never know why,” he added.
Julien was described as a cool and humble individual by the mother of his daughter, “his daughter had a baby yesterday (Sunday) and he only got to see the baby over the phone. Imagine they kill him and he didn’t even get a chance to see his first grand in real or to hold the baby. This killing in this country is senseless and sickening.”
According to a police report, at about 5 am yesterday Julien’s body was found near his car at his home in Morvant.
In a separate incident, shortly before 7 pm on Sunday, Quincy Lezama, 26, was liming with a group of friends near the basketball court, along Erica Street in Laventille, when a black Nissan Xtrail SUV drove up and its occupants opened fire.
Lezama, of Bascombe Trace, Laventille was shot multiple times. Police said the vehicle was found abandoned later on Upper Wharton Street, Port-of-Spain. Police are yet to determine a motive for Lezama’s killing.
