Murdered man identifies killer before dying

MINUTES before  succumbing to his injuries, Akil Leslie Smith of La Horquetta identified his killers to the police.

According to investigations, “Smith spilled the beans” to police on his deathbed at the Arima District Hospital shortly before he died. Smith, 21, was shot dead at his Orchid Lane, La Horquetta Gardens, Arima home around 9.30 pm on Monday, while sitting in his porch. According to information, the father of one was approached by two men he knew when a longstanding argument over drug money erupted. One of the men pulled out a gun firing four shots at close range. Three bullets hit him in the chest, hip and hands.

The bleeding man crawled off the chair to his side doorway where he collapsed. Neighbours responding to the shots took the bleeding man to the Arima District Hospital where an emergency operation failed to save his life, but not before he identified his killers. Relatives confirmed to Newsday that the person identified as the gun man was a school friend with whom Smith had a confrontation one week earlier at a Pizza Boys outlet in Arima. The relative also told Newsday that the dead man had been spoken to several times about the life he lived, but that made no impression. “He loved the ‘gangsta’ and thug life. He loved nice clothes and jewelry and decided to take the fast life to get it. Although his parents supported him, he still indulged in the fast life which he was warned about.”

Relatives also confessed to Newsday that Smith had recently started talking about changing his life and going to church but will not get a chance to enjoy that now. When contacted, police confirmed they have a warrant out for the arrest of a 22-year-old La Horquetta man. Visiting the scene at La Horquetta were Inspector Hutchkins, Corporal Phillip and Ag Cpl Maraj. The unemployed man, who would have turned 22 on January 9, was the third murder victim on Monday within 15 hours and was also the third in 36 hours.

At 6 am, businessman Christopher Aleong, 68, was shot dead by persons unknown outside his Petit Valley home gateway. Police suspect internal family wrangling. Eleven hours later, mother of four Narwatee Sundar, 48, a staunch Hindu, was found dead at her Kelly Village home with her throat slit and stab wounds to her body, by her husband. Police suspect an ex-convict of the area, who she was supposed to have given evidence against in a Chaguanas Magistrate Court in a house-breaking matter, may be responsible.

When Newsday visited the house, teary-eyed relatives were unable to speak to the media except to say, “She was a wonderful mother, wife and friend and would surely be missed. We will have no Christmas now. What we want is justice for her death.”  Visiting the Kelly village scene were Inspector Burt Raphael, Sgt Dennis Housend, Anjit Persad and Ag Cpl Corbett Ag Corbett is investigating.