PREGNANT MOM OF DISABLED GIRL SHOT DEAD

The deceased Ornella Philip, 28, who was five months in her pregnancy sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest. Phillip, of Thompson Street, Gasparillo, was the mother of Kayla, an eightyear- old autistic pupil of the Lady Hochoy Home. The child uses a wheelchair to move around.

A resident made the gruesome discovery shortly before 10 am yesterday when he went to Phillip’s apartment. However, investigators believe she was shot and killed about nine hours earlier, unknowing at the time to her daughter, mother and other relatives nearby.

According to police investigators, at about 11.30 pm on Saturday Phillip dropped off her daughter to spend the night at her mother’s apartment located behind the house on the same premises.

That was the last time the mother, Joanne Seepersad, saw Phillip alive.

The report added that at shortly before 10 am yesterday a resident contacted police about the gruesome discovery. Supt Pragg, ASP Ali-Mohammed together with Insps Ramkhelawan, Yearwood and Figaro, of the Gasparillo Police Station and Homicide Bureau, visited the scene. Police said neither the house was ransacked nor valuables missing which leads them to believe she may have known the killer. Phillip, a single parent, lived with her daughter. Resident Anthony ‘Boy Boy’ John explained that he went to the house and called out several times to Phillip.

He observed the front door ajar and when he peeped inside saw her lying on the ground and immediately ran to the back of the house and called out to Philip’s mother.

“All I see was her feet looking green. She was lying on the ground in the living room. I did not go and view the body or anything,” John said.

Residents expressed shock over the killing saying they heard no screams or shouting to suggest that a murder was being committed.

However, they recalled that at about 1 am yesterday, a gunshot rang out. They did not pay any mind until hours later when the resident discovered the body.

Scores of residents gathered along Thompson Street as police cordoned off the street. As undertakers were removing the body, Phillip’s mother was visibly shaking as she spoke with police.

Other police at the scene yesterday included Sgt Maharaj, PCs Harrikissoon and Noyan and WPC Green. The DMO Dr Francis viewed the body and ordered its removal to the mortuary of the San Fernando General Hospital.

Police are yet to determine a motive for the killing and an autopsy is expected to be performed tomorrow at the Forensic Sciences Centre, St James.