Although investigators are yet to determine a motive for the murder of former murder and kidnapping accused Roger Mootoo, they believe it could have stemmed from a series of illegal activities he was involved in.
Police said Mootoo, 42, was killed outside his apartment in Cara Courts, Claxton Bay, yesterday.
A report said Mootoo, also known as Roger Ravello, was returning to his apartment when a gunman approached and shot him several times. Residents told police they heard gunshots around 4.30 am and later looked out and saw a man lying on the ground.
Officers from the St Margaret’s Police Station responded and checked the surrounding areas for possible suspects but did not find anyone. Detectives from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations: Region Three went to the scene and recorded several statements.
Investigators said Mootoo had been renting the apartment from another tenant. On checking his file, they learned he was involved in prostitution, human trafficking, drugs and guns.
Mootoo’s death came five months after police fatally shot well-known drug lord Phillip “The Boss” Boodram and three other men during a shootout in Esperanza, Couva.
Mootoo, Boodram, Ricky Singh, Kervin Williams, and Aaron Grappie were all sentenced to 28 years for kidnapping and killing businesswoman Samdaye Rampersad. However, they later appealed their sentences.
On June 30, 2022, Appellate Judges Mark Mohammed, Alice Yorke-Soo Hon and Prakash Moosai upheld the appeal and overturned their manslaughter conviction. The men got discharged after serving 17 years in prison. The appeal panel based their decision on errors made by the High Court judge who oversaw the defendants’ second retrial in 2016.
