Lawyer’s son murdered

The victim was reported missing on Sunday.

An autopsy performed at the Forensics Science Centre in St James yesterday revealed that Ramlal was shot once to the back of the head. His father confirmed the identity of the body yesterday via the clothing. Speaking to reporters, attorney Ramlal lamented that no one is safe from the criminal elements terrorising this country and holding law-abiding citizens to ransom. “Crime has risen astronomically over the past 20 years and it continues to spiral out of control,” he said.

“It has always been worrying to me because I live in this society too. But when it hits home, it tells you in a different way that it has gone beyond the stage with which no citizen could feel comfortable.

No one is free from the risk of the criminal elements.” Ramlal left his family’s home in Couva on Sunday last at about 1 am. When he did not return over 12 hours later, relatives became worried and his father made a report to the Couva Police Station. Richard was last seen wearing a dark coloured jersey, a three-quarter pants and a pair of Puma sneakers.

On Tuesday, police officers discovered his body in a shallow tributary in Woodland. Ramlal yesterday revealed that his son had been working with him as a law clerk, while studying for his law degree. Ramlal, a former student of Naparima College, was also a national youth cricketer and member of the Miracle Ministries Pentecostal Church. He was also an active member of the New Wave Gym.

Ramlal said he did not know of any altercations or incidents which occurred prior to his disappearance on Sunday last that would have led to his death. Richard’s death brings the murder toll to 46 for this year. His killer remains at large.

‘JOHN DOE’ RIDDLED Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified man was found riddled with bullets behind a house in Snake Valley Road, Belmont shortly after 11 am yesterday.

Residents told police that at 3.30 pm on Tuesday they were alerted to gunshots but paid no attention to it as gunshots are the norm in Belmont. Yesterday at 11 am, residents spied what looked like a body behind a house and contacted the police.

Officers found no form of identification on the man’s body which was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. So far, Northern Division has the highest number of murders in the nine police divisions that the country is divided into. Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams has opted to take a personal interest in working with officers in Northern Division to try and bring crime and murders.

ANOTHER BODY In another case, the body of man was yesterday found in the nation’s capital, Port-of-Spain.

Police have only been able to identify the man as ‘Lorenzo’ from St James. Newsday understands that yesterday at 1 am, residents of Clifton Hill, Port-of-Spain were awakened by the sound of gunshots.

The frightened residents opted to stay inside their homes, rather than investigate. However, a call was made to the police.

Officers arrived, made checks, found nothing untoward and left.

At 7 am yesterday, a passer-by found the man’s body lying face down in a drain at the side of the road. The police were again called in and the body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James