Police hold suspects after Mayaro killing

Quick response by Eastern Division police resulted in the arrest of four people who are suspects in the murder of a Mayaro man. One of the men is in critical condition at the San Fernando General Hospital, while the three others are in police custody. Anthony Lemessy, of Plaisance, Mayaro, died instantly after receiving eight gunshots to the head when four armed broke down his front door and stormed his home around 3 am yesterday. Lemessy was dragged from his bed and thrown to the ground, then brought to the front of his house where he was shot. The killers then drove off in two separate vehicles. Police said that around 3 am, they received a report of housebreaking at Plaisance. When PC Knight and WPC Farley responded, they found Lemessy lying in a pool of blood. They called for back-up when they saw two vehicles speeding out of Plaisance Road.

A team of officers, headed by Sen Supt Farouk Ghany, Insps Fitgerald George, Edmund Thomas, Sgts Moses Charles, Keith Phillip, Cpl Mahabir, and other police officers from Mayaro, Rio Claro, Manzanilla, Sangre Grande and Valencia, set up roadblocks and wired messages to other police stations to intercept the two cars. The cars were spotted in Mayaro and the police gave chase. One of the cars ran off the road and crashed. The driver, identified as Hayden Goddard of St Augustine, received injuries to his head, chest and body. He was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he is warded in  critical condition. The other car, driven by Mark Deare of Mt D’or Road, Champs Fleurs, was intercepted in Sangre Grande.

The third suspect, who gave his address as L’Anse Mitan, Carenage, was held by the Manzanilla police in a vehicle heading to Sangre Grande. A .38 revolver which he had in his possession and which police believe was used in the murder of Lemessy was seized. The fourth suspect was held by Valencia police in a maxi-taxi heading for Arima. Eyewitnesses said that around 3 am yesterday, they saw four armed men knocking on the door of the deceased man’s uncle — 56-year-old Grell Lemessy. They called the police while the men were questioning Grell. He (Grell) was seen walking with the four men towards the house where Anthony lived, with a gun at his head. The relatives made another call to the police, who did not arrive at the time.

Relatives said they saw the men breaking down the front door of the deceased’s house. He was then dragged into his yard, where he was shot. Disappointed relatives, including Konata Lemessy, brother of the deceased, complained that the police arrived on the scene too late. Anthony Lemessy was recently released from prison and was trying to reunite with his family. He was described by all as helpful and jovial. “Look around man, you see how clean this place is. This is the work of Anthony.” Sgt Charles of the Mayaro police is investigating. Lemessy is murder victim number 170 for 2004.