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alexk
Guest
The murder of a man and the wounding of his common-law wife marred the Eid holiday at Lilly Lane, North Eastern Settlement, Sangre Grande.
Morris Francis, 27, of Blake Avenue, Damarie Hill, Guaico, was shot multiple times and died while undergoing emergency surgery at the Sangre Grande Hospital on Friday, while his common-law-wife, Alicia Neckles, 24, was shot in her chest and remained warded in stable condition up to late yesterday.
The couple had gone to visit their relatives when tragedy struck. Neckles’ mom, who lives in Tobago, returned to her Lilly Lane home to spend the weekend and invited her daughter for a lime. While drinking and listening to music at the front of the house around 6.30 pm, a gunman dressed in black with his face covered opened fire on them.
A relative told T&T Guardian, “I went to the inside of my house to change the music when I heard sounds like firecracker. Within seconds, my stepdaughter Alicia came running towards me with blood pouring on her top and dripping on the floor saying ‘Please help, daddy.’
“I became dumbfounded. As I approached the area where we were sitting I observed Francis lying on the grass with blood all over his body. He was still alive, attempting to say something to me, but did not see my wife. I called on neighbours for assistance, they responded and called the police. Later, I found my wife lying on the grass, playing dead to avoid the gunman. I felt relieved and thanked God.”
Police arrived within minutes and took those who were injured to the hospital.
Relatives believed it was a hit because Francis had left to purchase cigarettes at a nearby grocery and his assailant allegedly followed him.
Visiting the scene were ASP Etienne, Insp Lutchman, WSGT Lopez, Cpls De La Rosa, Jones, and others.
An autopsy will be performed on Francis at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.
Cpl Jones is continuing investigations.
RALPH BANWARIE