Man dies under silk cotton tree

Residents referred to the superstitious folklore about the evil that lurks under silk cotton trees yesterday in Laventille after Don “Saya” George, a 27-year-old Laventille man, was shot seven times while he was standing at the side of Picton Road, Laventille and his body fell about ten feet down a precipice and landed under a silk cotton tree. His death brings the murder rate to 106 persons killed for the year so far.

Minutes after the shooting, a National Security helicopter hovered over the scene in search of suspects, while a large contingent of heavily armed police and army officers flocked to the area and took control of the situation. Residents claimed they heard seven shots and on checking saw the body of George down the precipice. An eyewitness told police at around 2 pm yesterday George was standing on the road opposite the silk cotton tree when a gunman came out of a car and shot him in the head. He was also shot in the chest, shoulders and a second time in the head.

George slumped over a concrete railing, falling about ten feet down the precipice in front of the silk cotton tree. He died almost immediately. George’s sister, Julia, said her brother did not live at her home and she had not seen him for months. She said she had no idea why her brother was killed and was in a state of shock. Residents said George, the father of a baby boy, was friendly and troubled no one. They said although he was no longer living in Laventille, he regularly visited a friend who lived close to the silk cotton tree.

They said he appeared to have been hiding out in the area in recent days and was seldom seen venturing out of the house. Police told Newsday George was a suspect in several of the gang related murders in Laventille and was also wanted for several robberies and shootings. Senior officers on the scene claimed they had several warrants for him. The body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre and an autopsy will be carried out today. ACP Crime Oswyn Allard, Supt Denoon, ASP Sealey, Inspector Breaton and others visited the scene.