Auto mechanic died from multiple gunshot wounds

A POST mortem performed on the body of auto mechanic Derrick Lalla has revealed he died from multiple gunshot wounds, police sources said yesterday.

The autopsy was performed late Thursday by pathologist Dr Hughvon desVignes. It revealed that Lalla had been shot four times, in the feet, chest and head. Lalla’s headless corpse was discovered by the police around 7 am Thursday about two miles into a forested area off Balata Trace, Tumpuna Road, San Rafael. There, the officers found the decomposed body of Lalla, who was clad in a denim three quarter jeans, white T-shirt and black slippers. His head was about ten feet away from his body. Police said they do not believe it was chopped off, but was removed by animals.

Lalla, of Couva Avenue, Maloney, went missing on September 21 after he visited a friend in Arouca. He had not been seen since, but the vehicle he was driving was found burnt in the Wallerfield district on Monday. Up to late evening, police said they had no motive for the killing, but speculated that Lalla might have been murdered because of his affiliation with people of “questionable character.” No one had been questioned up to late evening and Sgt Osmond Williams of the San Rafael Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is  investigating.