Relatives of Atiba Rodriguez, who was killed at his girlfriend’s home in Arima on Sunday night, believe his killer was envious of the 29-year-old’s success.
Speaking with the media at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, yesterday, the relatives denied police suggestion that Rodriguez was “known to them”, a phrase which usually indicates the person has a criminal past or is involved in criminal activity.
Rodriguez, a father of one, was dropping off his girlfriend at her Edward Street, Arima home when he was ambushed around 10 pm Sunday. Relatives said while he spent most of his time outside of his Tunapuna home, where he grew up, he would never sleep out.
Rodriguez was the owner of ATRO Environmental and Construction Company and was an assistant Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) coordinator.
His relatives said they were shocked by his murder, adding that he never told them he had been threatened or that he felt his life was in danger. They said he lived for his son and all he did was for the betterment of his child.
In an unrelated killing, relatives of Damian Jemmott said his death may be linked to an old grievance he had with someone in his Point Cumana, Carenage home town.
The relatives, who didn’t want to be identified, said Jemmott, 39, was a labourer with the Diego Martin Regional Corporation for the past 13 years. They said Jemmott was highly critical of his fellow villagers for murdering Kerol Austin, 38, on December 3 last year and relatives believe this could have been a motive for his death.
According to police, around 1 am on Saturday they received reports of gunshots at Rodney Street, Point Cumana. When they arrived they found resident Jemmott dead at the side of the road with several gunshot wounds.
