Family living in fear as suspect in woman’s murder released

RELATIVES of murdered Princes Town mother of four Juliet Victoria Cummings, who was stabbed more than 20 times and her throat slit over the weekend, are calling on police to protect them, especially Cummings’ young children after the prime suspect in the murder was released from police custody yesterday afternoon.

However, while relatives are calling for police protection, a senior police source told Newsday yesterday that plans were underway to have 24-hour protection for the family. Last Saturday, Cummings, 41, was allegedly attacked and murdered by a man whom she knew while she sat in a maxi-taxi at the NIPDEC car park and maxi-taxi hub in Princes Town. She was stabbed in the maxi-taxi, dragged out onto the road and her throat slit in the presence of several horrified onlookers. However, police sources complained yesterday that despite the fact that Cummings was murdered in the presence of several persons, they were forced to release the 34-year-old labourer because of a lack of evidence. “We released him after midday from the San Fernando CID because we just did not have any evidence against him,” a senior police source told Newsday. The source added that the suspect was to be placed on an identification parade but no one came forward to identify him as being Cummings’ killer.

The suspect was subsequently released since local law prohibits a person from being kept in police custody for more than 48 hours if that person is not formally charged with an offence. However, police sources assured that investigations were continuing and that in no way the case was closed. Sources said they would also institute special arrangements with security authorities at both Piarco and Crown Point Airports and also the Port-of-Spain Port since they fear the suspect may plan to flee the country. The suspect was arrested at his Buen Intento home mere hours after the killing. In a telephone interview yesterday, mother of the slain woman, Eileen Mendoza, said that the entire family was now “living in fear” for their lives. She said that the man (name called) had threatened to kill everyone in the family, including Cummings’ children. “That is what he used to say, that if he killed Julie then he would kill the three children, my daughter Jane and me,” a frightened Mendoza stated.

However, she said that the family had “no plans” to either move or send Cummings’ children away to stay with other relatives. “I believe in God and I believe that He will protect us,” Mendoza said, adding that while the family had relatives living abroad, the suspect also had relatives living in the same country. “That is why Julie never moved because the man would have come after her,” Mendoza said. And asked what would be the family’s reaction to the man’s appearance at Cumming’s funeral, scheduled to take place at the New Grant Pentecostal Church today, Mendoza sighed and said, “Boy, I really don’t know what to say. I just hope that that doesn’t happen.” She said that the family was now appealing to members of the public who had witnessed the murder to come forward and give their evidence to the police so that her daughter’s killer could face justice. Police have also echoed Mendoza’s plea, asking the persons who saw the killing to contact officers of the San Fernando Homicide Bureau. Investigations are continuing.