Teen stabbed to death defending sister

SHIVANAND Rattan Sookdeo, 18, could not stand by and watch his sister being savagely beaten by her 14-year-old boyfriend. In the ultimate sacrifice for his sister’s safety, Sookdeo intervened in the fight and was dealt a single fatal stab to the chest by his sister’s boyfriend on Sunday night. Up to late yesterday, the 14-year-old suspect remained in custody as investigators awaited results of an autopsy on Sookdeo’s body at the Forensic Science Centre. Investigators were also expected to consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Four eyewitnesses, including Sookdeo’s sister, have since given statements to police. “Shivanand was a blessed fellow and he should not have been the one to go like this. The one to go is still alive,” a distraught Donald Ramroop, grandfather of the victim, told Newsday.

According to reports, Sookdeo commonly known as “Chin,” of Seventh Street, New Settlement, Dow Village, California, jumped in front of his sister Seema to prevent her from being beaten by her 14-year-old boyfriend around 11.30 pm. Eyewitnesses who spoke to Newsday said Seema, 16, and her boyfriend, were in a heated argument metres from their homes when the suspect, armed with a knife, started kicking and hitting Seema. Shivanand who was standing nearby and who saw his sister’s boyfriend make as if to stab her, ran towards Seema and jumped in front of her. At the same time, the enraged boyfriend lunged forward and allegedly stabbed Sookdeo in his chest. As Sookdeo slumped to the ground, bleeding and gasping for air, the boyfriend ran off, while several persons ran to Sookdeo’s assistance. He was taken to the Couva District Hospital where he died while receiving emergency treatment.

Couva police were called in and managed to detain the suspect. Police sources said they recorded statements from eyewitnesses, including Sookdeo’s sister and other relatives. “Chin was such an obedient person who loved his family. He paid the price for other people’s stupidity and disobedience. Life is so unfair,” grandfather Donald Ramroop said as the tears flowed freely. Ramroop said Sookdeo, a labourer, was not one to usually meddle in other people’s business but he had to act in defence of his sister. Sookdeo’s parents have been separated for the past two years and since that time, he was living at his grandparents’ home. Other sombre relatives described Sookdeo as a loving person, who was always willing to assist anyone. Sookdeo’s younger brother Vikash, five, stood with a forlorn look on his face. He softly told reporters he would miss his brother dearly and wished he was still alive.

Sookdeo’s paternal grandmother Sookrani Bankay left her Moruga home on hearing of the tragedy and arrived in California with tears in her eyes, and she quickly hugged Vikash. The grieving woman said she took care of the deceased when he was younger. “Oh God! Why this had to happen,” the elderly woman cried as she hugged and kissed Vikash in the gallery. Through her tears, Bankay said she last saw Sookdeo two weeks ago when he came to spend some time with her. “All he tell me when he was leaving was, ‘Ma I going home.’ He did not say when he was coming back which he usually does. Now I have to be the one coming to look for him,” she cried. Investigations are continuing.