Tempers flare outside Chaguanas Court

AS Tempers mixed with tears outside the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court yesterday, throngs of people gathered for the appearance of three men charged in the Mother’s Day killing of Chaguanas security firm businessman Colin Ian Ruiz. Ruiz disappeared on Mother’s Day after visiting his wife Reena and their two children in Hardbargain, Tabaquite. His decomposed body was found Tuesday evening in Carapichaima. Ruiz was cremated on Thursday. Yesterday, distraught wife Reena went to the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court for the appearance of the three men charged with Ruiz’s murder. Outside the courthouse, Reena complained that a close female relative of one of the accused men gave her the “cut-throat” sign.

Shaheed Dalia, 23, of Chaguanas; Jason Surujlal, aka “Midget,” 20, of Clarke Road, Charlieville; and Ishmael Khan, 19, of Frederick Settlement, Caroni, were taken to court by armed policemen to answer the charge of murder. They appeared before Magistrate Nanette Forde John. The courtroom was packed with both relatives of the accused and deceased Ruiz. The three accused sat on a bench with their heads bowed. Occasionally, they hid their faces with the back of their hands. Magistrate Forde John read the murder charge, which alleged that on May 8 (Mother’s Day), at Roopsingh Road, Carapichaima, the accused men killed 30-year-old Colin Ruiz. Ruiz’s skeletal remains were found in a shallow grave on Tuesday evening some 35 days after he disappeared.

The charge was laid indictably (trial before judge and jury) and Magistrate Forde John did not call on the accused to enter pleas. The magistrate postponed hearing of the matter to June 27, but as she did so, relatives quickly rushed out of the court and lined the corridors to catch a glimpse of the accused men. However, grief-stricken Reena stood outside the cellblock area. The widow, who takes care of her deceased husband’s two children, became emotional and at one point she was seen clenching her fist while staring at the accused men. As relatives took her away, the woman sobbed: “They call themselves people. They are killers!” A relative who sought to console her said, “leave them alone Reena you will get justice, and they will get theirs.”

In the carpark outside the courthouse, cross-talk erupted between members of the Ruiz family and relatives of the accused with an exchange of expletives. “The blood on your family! They take away my children father!” Reena cried, walking away. Grace Ruiz, mother of the deceased, commented, “My son dead, but I feel sorry for them.” Even accused Surujlal’s sister, Sabrina, walked up to Reena and, with tear-filled eyes, she held on to her hands, and begged for forgiveness on behalf of her accused brother. Reena replied: “I forgive him. He’s facing it now and you have to help him.” The case was postponed to June 27.