Two wakes for one man

RESIDENTS of Chanka Trace Extension, Hingoo Lands Circular, El Socorro, last night were given the opportunity of attending two wakes on opposite sides of the street for the same man. One wake was held at the home of  his wife, from whom he had been separated, but whom he still visited. The other was at the home of his common-law wife Seeta Mohammed.

The wakes were held for Stephen Zaid Sahadath, 49, alias “Steva,” a well-known druglord, who was shot dead Wednesday night a short distance from his home. According to reports, Sahadath was walking along Chanka Trace Extension to meet Mohammed at around 8 pm, when two men approached him. He was shot several times, one bullet passing through his heart. He ran a short distance and collapsed. Mohammed, who ran away when she heard the shots, ran back to her bleeding  husband and rushed him to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

When Newsday visited Sahadath’s home, no one was available for comment but an in-law described him as a wonderful man who was a friend to everyone. The relative confirmed that they were preparing the house for a wake last night. The wife and children had gone to prepare for his funeral today. Meanwhile, Mohammed, who resides obliquely opposite the children’s home, admitted she was also preparing for a wake, but was not involved in funeral preparations. “Steva’ was a wonderful man to me and my three children. He was the sole breadwinner. Right now I don’t know what the future holds because he provided everything.” At both of his homes — where one person said Sahadath was a URP foreman and the other said he was a farmer — there were denials about his involvement in drugs or anything illegal.

Police sources believe the killing is drug-related. Sources confirmed that while his home had been searched several times and nothing found, they have information he carried on his business near the Caroni swamp. Sahadath had previous charges for possession of arms, marijuana, firearm and wounding. Two villagers are currently assisting police with the investigation and an arrest is expected soon. Visiting the scene were ASP Felix, Insp Coa, Sgt Abraham and Cpl Bernard, who is investigating.