Sean Luke murder

THE COUVA home of a young state witness in the preliminary inquiry into the murder of six-year-old Sean Luke was completely gutted by fire early yesterday morning in an arson attack, police said yesterday, adding that they believed that the attack was linked to the March 28 murder of Sean Luke who bled to death after he was buggered with a canestalk in a canefield 200 feet from his home at Orange Valley Road, Waterloo.

Two boys — ages 13 and 16 — from the area have since been charged with his murder and are before a Couva magistrate.

“His murder had evoked angry outbursts and condemnation by members of the public, but yesterday’s fire was the first act of lawlessness,” a police officer told Newsday.

When fire broke out at their home about 2 am yesterday, police said no one was there. The 17-year-old state witness, who lived with his parents and five young siblings a short distance away from Luke’s home, moved out of the house a few days after Sean Luke was killed.

Neighbour Lazina Mohammed, 61, who lives next door with her daughter, son, son-in-law and nine-year-old granddaughter, said she was traumatised over the incident since the fire had spread to her house. Fortunately, she said, relatives were able to put out the flames before they could engulf her home.

Recounting the incident to Newsday yesterday, Mohammed said she was awakened by a noise inside her house. She said she woke up her daughter, Leela. She said her son, Navin Rampersad and son-in-law, Vijay Ramasar, went outside to investigate.

“I hear them shouting, ‘allyuh come outside the house burning,”’ Mohammed said. “me, my daughter and grandaughter run out the house.”

She said Rampersad and Ramasar used a water hose to douse the flames, which had spread to the curtains in her gallery and living room.

She said they were able to keep the blaze under control until the arrival of the Couva Fire Services.

Mohammed said she last saw the State witness’ mother on Saturday when the woman came to get some clothes, accompanied by police.

Shaking her head, Mohammed added: “I don’t know who do this.”

Police said the house did not have electricity or a water supply. A party of officers from the Couva Police Station, headed by Sgt Donny Ramlogan,visited the scene. Ramlogan is continuing investigations.