WEEK OF DEATH

Three more killings, all of which took place yesterday, in St Joseph, Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain and Chatham in south Trinidad, have sent the nation’s murder toll shooting up to 16, within the first eight days of this year. Of these 16 murders, a mind-boggling 12 were committed this past week in five days from Monday and up to yesterday.

Those killed yesterday have been identified as Kwasi Solomon who was ambushed and shot dead at Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain; Sheldon Matimoro a private-hire (PH) driver who was shot dead in St Joseph and father of three, Sham “Bobby” Maharaj, who was shot dead in Chatham near the sea. Not one suspect has been arrested in connection with these 16 murders.

TEARS NEAR THE SEA Yesterday’s bloodletting started at eleven o’clock in the morning when a routine trip to Chatham South Trace, Cedros, for coconuts, ended in 45-year-old father of three Sham “Bobby” Maharaj being shot. Maharaj of Irois Forest Road, Chatham worked as a labourer at the Siparia Regional Corporation. He was also a vendor at the Point Fortin market and lived with his wife, Asha, and their three children.

Reports are Maharaj, together with his son Visham and other villagers, had gone to the beach in search of coconuts. Shortly after 11 am, gunshots were heard and Vishram later fond the bullet- riddled body of his father on the ground next to his van metres away from the beach. Maharaj, Newsday was told, died with his both hands forward as he he was pleading for his life or surrendering to his killer/s.

Screams were heard and tears shed near the beach as Maharaj’s relatives arrived as news of his killing spread. His sister Rajmainee Ramlochan said Maharaj returned from work at the corporation at 9 am and headed to the beach in search of dried coconuts.

Ramlochan of Cap-de-Ville said based on information received, her brother had moments earlier just dropped off the villagers and was returning home.

“Bobby normally goes to the beach to get dry coconuts to sell in the market. Visham found him on the ground with his hands raised in the air. This morning I was supposed to pass by him for yam. To the best of my knowledge he was never threatened or anything. He lived nice with people.

Why would someone want to kill my brother,” she cried.

Maharaj’s wife Asha, together with other relatives wept as they consoled each other while police officers processed the scene.

Overcome with grief, the victim’s sister fainted twice. As undertakers removed the body, female relatives screamed in anguish. Maharaj was the last of 13 children to his parents.

SEA LOTS AMBUSH At about the same time Maharaj’s family was weeping and shouting his name, as he was being placed in a hearse, Kwasi Solomon was sitting in his car parked near the Bhagwansingh’s Hardware in Sea Lots, east Portof- Spain. He did not see as a man walked up to his car, pulled out a gun and fired shots. Bullets penetrated the front windscreen of the car and struck Solomon in his chest and neck.

He died sitting in the driver’s seat as the gunman calmly walked away. A report was made and officers of the Besson Street CID, Port-of-Spain CID and the Inter-Agency Task Force arrived on the scene and cordoned off the area. Five spent shells were recovered at the scene. Police sources said they are working on a theory that Solomon, who lived in Laventille, may have been killed as a reprisal for the New Year’s morning murders of six-year-old Jodel Ramnath and Alvina Warner, 69, who were body shot dead in Beetham Gardens as they were looking at fireworks.

PH DRIVER KILLED The final murder, up to press time, took place at 5 pm when Sheldon Matimoro, 46, was plying his Nissan B15 car for hire in the St Joseph area. Police said he was driving with three passengers in his vehicle. As the car slowed almost to a stop along the road, gunshots were heard and the three occupants - a man who was sitting in the front seat and two women seated in the back, got out of the car and ran off in different directions as gunshots continued to be fired at Matimoro from gunmen hidden in nearby bushes.

The vehicle veered out of control and crashed into a nearby wall. Police and emergency services were contacted and a party of officers including Inspector Nowbutt, Sgt Rene Katwaroo and ASP Mack, responded to the call.

Matimoro was pronounced dead at the scene. A motive is yet to be established for this killing.

Police sources told Newsday the death of Nathan Barcoo Campo, 13, which took place on January 3 when he died at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope will not be recorded as a murder committed this year since he was chopped on December 27 at his Las Lomas home while trying to protect his mother Claudia from a 17-yearold youth who was chopping her with a cutlass. Claudia survived the attack although she was chopped in the neck, face and head. Police said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday advised investigators to charge the 17-year-old with murder and he will appear in court on Monday.

On January 1, little Jodel Ramnath, Alvina Warner and Ravi Maniedeo were murdered. On Sunday January 3, Orcale Smith was shot dead in Sangre Grande.

The remaining 12 murders were committed between Monday last and yesterday.

THIS WEEK’S MURDER ROLL

Mon Jan 4: David Richards, 27, shot dead in Moruga Mon Jan 4: Randy Boodhan, 31, shot dead in Arima Tue Jan 5: Renny Castillo AKA ‘Stunners’, 28, found shot dead in Laventille.

Wed Jan 6: Quincy George, 27, shot dead in Chaguanas Thurs Jan 7: ‘John Doe’ found shot dead in Laventille Thurs Jan7: Joseph Maloney, 31, shot dead at his home in Valencia

Thurs Jan 7: Matthew Simmons, 31, and Oswald Bailey, 27, shot dead in Belmont Thurs Jan 7: Sedal ‘Mouse’ Samuel, 22, shot dead in Aranjuez Fri Jan 8: Sham ‘Bobby’ Maharaj, shot dead in Chatham

Fri Jan 8: Sheldon Matimoro, 46, shot dead in St Joseph Fri Jan 8: Kwasi Solomon, shot dead in Sea Lots.