Fight over goats ends in death

WHEN Frankie Gokool saw a male relative chasing his son with a piece of wood Thursday morning, Gokool intervened to save his son. During a scuffle, Gokool slumped to the ground and died. The scuffle occurred after six goats belonging to Gokool’s son, started eating the leaves of some ochro plants in the relative’s garden.

And while an autopsy carried out yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre, concluded that Gokool, 57, died of a massive heart attack, his grieving daughter Marilyn told Newsday that she never knew her father to suffer from any major ailments especially with his heart. “I want justice for my father’s death,” Marilyn cried, as she spoke to Newsday, at the family’s Manicou Trace, Tableland home. She is the only daughter of Gokool and will be graduating as a police officer in a week’s time. The 31-year-old relative and Gokool’s son, Marlon, have both given police statements about the incident after being detained. They were both subsequently released. During the altercation, the relative sustained wounds to his head and hands and had to seek treatment at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Gokool’s uncle, Roodal Ramnath, 63, revealed that two hours before the incident, he had spoken to Marlon and the relative about the dispute they had over Marlon’s goat  grazing near the relative’s pumpkin and ochro garden. Every week, Ramnath added, the relative would quarrel with Marlon about the goats feeding on his (the relative’s) crops. Ramnath, however, claimed Marlon did not pay any attention to the relative. ASP Nathaniel visited the scene and is spearheading investigations.