Murder on the Coffee

Dead is Jerome “Pum” Calliste, 36, of Phase Two, Golconda.

Calliste died on the spot after he was shot in the head outside Lai King Chinese Restaurant and Bar on the corner of Coffee and Drayton Streets at about 10.15 am. According to a police report, Calliste was seated in his silver B-15 motorcar when a man armed with a gun stood on the road close to the vehicle and began shooting. The gunman escaped on foot.

The report stated that Calliste was shot several times in the head. Police said Calliste managed to step out of the vehicle but he eventually collapsed a short distance away. He was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The shooting occurred a short distance from the Homicide Southern Bureau office on Coffee Street.

When Newsday visited Calliste’s home in Golconda, a neighbour said the deceased man and a close female relative were having domestic problems.

The neighbour said the news of Calliste’s death came as a shock to him. Calliste’s killing occurred even as homicide dectectives were working feverishly to solve Saturday’s shooting death of ‘PH’ driver Angus James in Gasparillo.

James, 46, of Bayshore, Marabella was found slumped across the steering wheel of his B-15 Sentra motor car, bleeding from a bullet wound to the head.

Autopsies on both bodies are to be conducted today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.

Detectives yesterday said that they have not yet ascertained any motive in both murders.