Cops suspect court link in woman’s murder

POLICE probing the murder of Probation Officer (PO) Krista Lackpatsingh, 23, who was found dead in a pool of blood at her Cedros home on Tuesday afternoon, believe she was killed because of enquiries she was conducting at her workplace — Pt Fortin Magistrates’ Court. Saying that they had no clear cut motive for Lackpatsingh’s murder, police sources said they were investigating her work background for any possible link. Officers also said they had ruled out robbery as the motive since nothing was taken from Lackpatsingh’s home. Three young men, ages 18, 23, and 26, all from Cedros, are assisting the police in their investigations.

A legal source told Newsday, a PO played a crucial role in the sentence of a convicted person. According to the source, before a magistrate sentences a person found guilty of a crime, they would request from the PO a report on the background of the convict. This background, the legal source said, included the convicted person’s family life, his/her criminal record, interviews with his/her relatives, neighbours and friends with a view to establishing whether the accused is a hardened criminal or someone who could be rehabilitated. The source said once the magistrate had the PO’s report, they would then know how to proceed in terms of handing down the appropriate punishment to the convict. Lackpatsingh, who was stationed at Pt Fortin Magistrates’ Court, was discovered dead by her parents — her body lying in a pool of blood — in the living room of her Limefield Road, Cedros home around 4 pm on Tuesday.

According to police sources, Lackpatsingh’s body bore several stab wounds and her throat was slashed, in what they deemed a cold-blooded, brutal act. An autopsy carried out yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre by pathologist Dr Hughvon des Vignes, confirmed Lackpatsingh died of shock and haemorrhage consistent with multiple stab wounds. South Western Division police investigators revisited the Lackpatsingh residence and environs yesterday. Pt Fortin Magistrate Rae Roopchand also stopped by the Lackpatsingh residence to express his condolences. Speaking to Newsday, Lackpatsingh’s boyfriend of seven years, Kerry Moodie, 24, said he did not know who would want to murder Lackpatsingh. Through tears, he remembered her as a very pleasant person who was always ready to assist people in anyway she could. A distraught Moodie, tearfully said, “we were even planning on getting married at the end of the year or early next year and  Krista was also planning to pursue her Masters in Social Sciences at UWI.

“Imagine all her dreams, aspirations and visions are now just no more, blown away by the wind of evil,” he cried. Moodie also described Lackpatsingh as a hard working, fun-to-be-with individual, who always took pleasure in making everyone around her happy and in a jolly mood. “Krista, was one who always looked after the welfare of her younger brother, Kevin. She loved her father Steve and mother Jade, both of whom are teachers,” Moodie said. He then called on the police to bring his girlfriend’s killer/s to justice. Lackpatsingh did her initial probationary training at the Port-of- Spain’s Magistrates’ Court and in September 2002 went to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court where she officially began to work as a probation officer. She was however, recently transferred to the Point Fortin Magistrates’ Court. A funeral for Lackpatsingh will be held tomorrow at 1 pm at the house of mourning and thence to Belgrove’s Funeral Home, San Fernando for cremation. Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and investigations are continuing.